Christians celebrate Jesus' birth on December
25th. It follows a month of preparation and
involved lots of festivities, school plays telling
the story of the nativity, exchanging Christmas
cards and presents, special meals, special decoration
- very much like big festivals in other world
religions.
Good Friday
:
The day that Jesus died on the cross. There
are services in all Christian churches at the
time Christ was crucified. These are very solemn
occasions quite unlike what will occur three
days later.
Easter Sunday
:
The most important festival for Christians.
It is a very joyous occasion marked in churches
by wonderful music and flowers. Out of church
by the exchange of cards and Easter eggs - a
symbol of spring and new life as Jesus' death
brought new life to Christians.
Holy Week:
Palm
Sunday - Maundy Thursday
On Palm Sunday - the first
day of Holy week Christians remember when Jesus
rode into Jerusalem riding on a donkey - people
threw palm leaves down on the road like a red
carpet might be laid in front of a king. Palm
crosses are given to the congregation to help
them think about the week ahead.
Maundy Thursday is a reminder of the last supper
- when Jesus celebrated the first communion
with is apostles.
Shrove Tuesday and Lent :
Shrove Tuesday is
four weeks before Easter. It is celebrated by making
pancakes and traditionally having pancake races etc.
The idea is to use up all of the rich food - eggs
and flour ready for the month long fast to prepare
oneself for the Easter celebration.
Whitsun :
On the
day of Pentecost when the Jews celebrated their harvest
festival. Jesus, his apostles and many people who
followed him were together in Jerusalem. Suddenly
it seemed like a wind rushed through the crowd, everyone
suddenly could understand many languages new to them.
It was a visit from the Holy Spirit and he gave everyone
there new power in their bodies so that they could
go and spread the word of God.
