Traditionally, the last Sunday of the liturgical year deals in a special way with the expectation of Judgment Day.

In 1816, King Frederick William III of Prussia issued a decree that required all Lutheran churches in the areas under Prussian rule to observe the last Sunday before Advent as a "general celebration in memorial of the deceased".

In the United States, some Protestant churches celebrate this service of remembrance as Totenfest.

[4] In the Roman Catholic Church, the last sunday of the liturgical year is celebrated as Solemnity of Christ the King.

English Lutheran churches that follow the Revised Common Lectionary also celebrate Christ the King Sunday.