red-letter day

noun

1. a memorably important or happy occasion

red-letter day

1. A special or memorable day; the expression refers to the old custom of printing holidays in red on calendars: “John got promoted and engaged to be married yesterday; it was truly a red-letter day for him.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of red-letter day¹

C18: from the red letters used in ecclesiastical calendars to indicate saints' days and feasts

Idioms and Phrases

A special occasion, as in When Jack comes home from his tour of duty, that'll be a red-letter day. This term alludes to the practice of marking feast days and other holy days in red on church calendars, dating from the 1400s. [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

This was a red-letter day for Adelaide-born Head as he scored a stunning century in front of a packed crowd on familiar territory.

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This was a red-letter day in the history of Liverpool's famous old stadium as the new top deck of the Anfield Road Stand was in use for the first time.

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His 24 points - his highest tally in a Test match - included two tries, but his kicking, vision and communicative skills laid the foundation for Ireland's red-letter day.

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Saturday was a red-letter day for the history of art in Southern California.

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It was a red-letter day for Elizebeth, proof that she had lived up to her old dreams of achievement.

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