10.3 Festivals and Celebrations

Question 1

Why is Christmas important?

Answer 1

• The Incarnation. Jesus, the son of God’s birth, it is therefore on of the most important events in history
• wise men were not Jews. Christians believe that Jesus did not just come for Jews, but to save all people
• confirms what many prophets, e.g. Isaiah, foretold about Jesus’ birth hundreds of years before the event took place
• without Jesus’ birth Christian faith would have not begun. Jesus would not have given his life for us, and we wouldn’t be saved from sin

Question 2

Why is the colour purple used to symbolise Lent?

Answer 2

• associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion
• associated with royalty, celebrates Christ’s resurrection and sovereignty

Question 3

What is fasting?

Answer 3

-abstaining from food and other things

Question 4

What is almsgiving?

Answer 4

-the practice of giving money or food to the poor

Question 5

What is prayer?

Answer 5

-a communication process that allows us to talk to God

Question 6

What do people do to prepare for Easter?

Answer 6

• fast
• pray
• almsgive

Question 7

Why do Christians fast?

Answer 7

• as a sign of mourning
• for spiritual strength/ to intensify prayer
• to show humility in the presence of God
• to worship God

Question 8

What is the basic structure of Holy Week?

Answer 8

1-arrival into Jerusalem
2-Last Supper
3-Garden of Gethsemane 
4-The arrest
5-The trial (before the Sanhedrin, Jewish religious court)
6-before Pilate
7-Jesus is led to Golgotha
8-Jesus dies
9-Jesus is buried
10-Jesus is resurrected

Question 9

What happens in Holy Week today?

Answer 9

• Palm Sunday: Palm Sunday service, Anglican and RC churches have palm crosses (palms waved, cross died on)
• Maundy Thursday: mass service where priest washes 12 men feet, to commemorate what Jesus did for the disciples. Eucharist is celebrated. Christians sit and wait a while with the Lord, like Jesus asked the disciples to do
• Good Friday:commemorates the Passion (Crucifixion of Jesus) Day of strict fasting and abstinence, day of mourning in the church. Stations of the cross take place
• Holy Saturday: no mass, Easter vigil after 6pm

Question 10

What are some reasons to believe Jesus resurrected?

Answer 10

• God is omnipotent
• Faith
• Bible
• Eye witness
• Phrophets

Question 11

What are some reasons to believe Jesus did not resurrect?

Answer 11

• No scientific evidence
• hasn’t happened since/not reliable
• might have never died
• the bible isn’t reliable

Question 12

What is the basic process of the Easter Vigil?

Answer 12

• begins with the lighting of fire, symbolises the light of Christ that has come into the world because of his resurrection
• pachel candle lit from fire. Candle has alpha and omega, shows Jesus has always existed and will always exist
• candle carried into dark church, as candle lightens church, the priest proclaims ‘Christ our Light’
• renewing of baptismal vows and recommit and admit fighting evil and doing good works

Question 13

Why is the Easter Vigil important?

Answer 13

• prepares Christians mentally for Easter Sunday
• may evangelise people, as the procession starts from outside and those around my be draw to the church and become Christian.
• Jesus lives. Jesus only had to conquer death once, he would never die again. Christian are unified in this shared belief that he lives and reigns forever
• Jesus’ teachings are confirmed because Jesus has proven that he is God, then we can also have confidence in all the other things that he has taught. These teachings are expressed at the Vigil and we learn from them