Do the words "Feast Day & Holy Day mean the same thing?"

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You would have to provide the context that they are being used in. Most times I would say that they are the same because people do not use precise English. Technically a feast day is one labled as such in the Church’s calendar. Today is the feast of the Nativity of Mary, for instance, and as such special readings are used, the gloria is sung, and the te deum is said in the office of readings. Additionally there are optional memorials, obligatory memorials, and solemnities. Feasts fall between solemnities and obligatory memorials in the progression of solemnity. These together would be classified as holy days.
 
Feast Days, or Holy Days, are days which are celebrated in commemoration of the sacred mysteries and events recorded in the history of our redemption, in memory of the Virgin Mother of Christ, or of His apostles, martyrs, and saints, by special services and rest from work. A feast not only commemorates an event or person, but also serves to excite the spiritual life by reminding us of the event it commemorates.
You can learn more about this by checking out the website
www.newadvent.org and putting in the search engine Feast days
 
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flamingsword:
You would have to provide the context that they are being used in. Most times I would say that they are the same because people do not use precise English. Technically a feast day is one labled as such in the Church’s calendar. Today is the feast of the Nativity of Mary, for instance, and as such special readings are used, the gloria is sung, and the te deum is said in the office of readings. Additionally there are optional memorials, obligatory memorials, and solemnities. Feasts fall between solemnities and obligatory memorials in the progression of solemnity. These together would be classified as holy days.
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Thanks… someone asked on a thread in the water cooler “What is your favorite Holy Day?” the next question asked was “What is your favorite Feast Day?” I wondered if a Feast Day is always a Holy Day - and is a Holy Day always a day of Obligation? Or could there be a Feast Day that is not a day of Obligation? Sorry… is this making you dizzy?
 
Feast days are always Holy Days but not always a day of obligation as well. We celebrate today the Birthday of Mary. It is a feast day but it is not a day that we are obligated to attend mass. So all Holy Days of Obligation are Feast days, but not all Feast days are day of obligation.
 
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stbruno:
Feast days are always Holy Days but not always a day of obligation as well. We celebrate today the Birthday of Mary. It is a feast day but it is not a day that we are obligated to attend mass.
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This depends on what Liturgical calendar you follow.

In the Eastern Church, today was a Holy Day where attendance at Divine Liturgy was required.

Next week is the Feast of the Holy Life Giving Cross and it also is a Holy Day where attendance at Divine Liturgy is required.
 
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flamingsword:
You would have to provide the context that they are being used in. Most times I would say that they are the same because people do not use precise English. Technically a feast day is one labled as such in the Church’s calendar. Today is the feast of the Nativity of Mary, for instance, and as such special readings are used, the gloria is sung, and the te deum is said in the office of readings. Additionally there are optional memorials, obligatory memorials, and solemnities. Feasts fall between solemnities and obligatory memorials in the progression of solemnity. These together would be classified as holy days.
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Don’t forget that Feasts also have different rankings. The Feasts of: The Presentation of the Lord, The Transfiguration of the Lord, The Triumph of the Holy Cross, and the Dedication of St. John Laternan are the highest ranking feasts and will still be observed if they fall on a Sunday.
 
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