Christian

Celebrations
Advent
 In Western churches, this season of preparation for
Christmas lasts until Christmas itself.
 Catholics observe Advent with fasting and
repentance but also with joy, in anticipation of the
feast of the Nativity, or birth of Jesus.
 Orthodox believers observe Advent with a 40-day
fast from meat and dairy products.
Advent
 Advent has also been acknowledged as a time for
preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus and an
opportunity to acknowledge his presence in the daily
lives of believers
Christmas
 The Catholics and Protestants celebrate Christmas on
December 25, shortly before Epiphany.

 (In the Eastern Christian tradition, Epiphany originally

incorporated the celebration of Christ’s Nativity.)

 The familiar date is celebrated in the West as the date of the

birth of Christ, and as an opportunity to exchange gifts,
Epiphany
 Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Wise Men to the
new born Jesus.

 “Epiphany” means “manifestation” or “showing forth,”

usually of divine nature.

 The word has been used for centuries to describe gentiles’

encounter with Jesus, symbolized by visitors from the east
coming to humble themselves before the infant Messiah.
Lent
 Lent is a season of repentance and fasting that
serves as a spiritual preparation for the joy of the
Easter festival.

 The observance of the first day of Lent on Ash

Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter,
is of ancient origin.
Palm Sunday
The Friday before Easter recalls the death of Jesus
on the cross. It has been marked since ancient
times by fasting and other penitential rituals, as
well as by meditation on the Stations of the Cross,
a series of fourteen images depicting the passion,
or suffering, of Christ.
Orthodox, Anglican, and Catholic churches do not
celebrate the Eucharist on Good Friday. The gift of
Holy Communion they receive on that day is
Good Friday
 The Friday before Easter recalls the death of Jesus
on the cross.
 It has been marked since ancient times by fasting
and other penitential rituals, as well as by meditation
on the Stations of the Cross
 No celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday.
Easter
 Easter is the single most important holiday of the
Christian year.
 It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his
crucifixion and proclaims the spiritual rebirth of
believers through their union with the risen Christ.

 It is a commemoration of the power of Christ to

conquer death itself.
Pentecost
 Derived from the Jewish festival of Shavout
celebrating the spring harvest, the Christian feast of
Pentecost commemorates the gift of the Holy
Spirit on the disciples following Jesus’ resurrection
and ascension.
 The birth of the Christian church

 An English name for Pentecost is Whitsunday.

Assumption
 This feast, held on August 15, is the oldest feast in honor
of Mary.

 It is celebrated both in the West and in the East; especially

Roman Catholics commemorate Mary’s assumption,
body and soul, into heaven.

 Roman Catholics and Orthodox believers alike see Mary as

the first human to receive the full fruits of life in Jesus’
resurrection.
New Year
 The official beginning of the Orthodox church year is
September 1.

 Believers within this branch of the faith celebrate this new

beginning in a religious context.

 There is no equivalent New Year celebration in the Western

church.
Is That It?
Well, no. There are scores of other holidays within the
various Christian traditions. The Catholic faith, in particular,
is known for its profusion of holidays in honor of
particular saints. The celebrations we have described
represent the major dates of observance familiar to
Christians, however, and are a good beginning point for those
just encountering or rediscovering the faith.