2.2 Festivals and Celebration

Question 1

Describe Christmas story

Answer 1

1. Annunciation: Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would have a son
2. Angel appears in dream tells Joseph that Mary’s baby was God’s son
3. Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who’s pregnant with John the Baptist and they go to Bethlehem to be registered
4. No room at the inn, so Jesus is born in a stable
5. Angels appear to shepherds and shepherds visit Jesus.
6. Star appears in the East and magi (wise men) follow it, going to Herod’s palace looking for the baby king but they get led to the stable
7. Offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh
8. Joseph warned in dream that Herod plans to try and kill Jesus
9. Joseph escapes to Egypt

Question 2

What is the importance of Christmas?

Answer 2

-Incarnation
-Reveals Jesus’ mission

Question 3

How does Christmas show Incarnation?

Answer 3

-God becomes human, humbling himself
-comes to save man from sin, revealing his love for mankind
-Jesus = God and man
-virgin birth shows that Jesus is divine because he comes from God
-Birth in stable shows Jesus’ humility: he was willing to become homeless

Question 4

What does Christmas reveal about Jesus’ mission?

Answer 4

-Gold: Jesus is a king. Descendant of King David, implying that he is the Messiah. Reflects that he is God.
-Frankincense: Jesus is a priest. Mediates between God and man. His death mediated between God and man. Jesus is known as the ‘great high priest’
-Myrrh: used in embalming, foreshadows Jesus’ death for the sins of the world

Question 5

How is Christmas celebrated (list)?

Answer 5

-Advent
-Carol Services
-Christingles
-Crib
-Nativity play
-Midnight mass
-Present giving

Question 6

Describe Advent

Answer 6

-time of preparation before Christmas
-time to think about Christmas
-churches have an advent crown and one candle is lit each Sunday of Advent
-candles represent many things: one reminds of John the Baptist, holy in the advent crown can be a reminder of the crown of thorns.

Question 7

Describe Carol Service

Answer 7

-carols are sung to praise God and celebrate
-Many Christians will go to a service of nine lessons and carols
-readings tell story of God’s action in history beginning with Genesis story and human sin.

Question 8

Describe Christingles

Answer 8

-orange with a candle on top, a red ribbon around the middle and four sticks with sweets or dried fruits.
-orange: world
-candle: Jesus, light
-ribbon: his blood which saves the world
-fruit/sweets: God’s gifts

Question 9

Describe cribs

Answer 9

-many churches will have a crib
-used as an educational device or an aid to meditation and prayer

Question 10

Describe midnight mass

Answer 10

-takes place midnight on Christmas eve
-Christmas story read
-final central candle on the advent crown lit
-happy carols sung
-figure of baby Jesus put in crib

Question 11

Describe present giving

Answer 11

-reminder of gifts magi gave Jesus
-reminder of God’s gift of Jesus to the world
-way of sharing love

Question 12

What is the importance of easter?

Answer 12

-Crucifixion
-Resurrection

Question 13

Describe importance of crucifixion in Easter

Answer 13

-Jesus died to atone
-His death pays the price of sin and redeems the world
-Man is therefore justified and forgiven
-Importance of Easter is that it puts people back in a right relationship with God

Question 14

Describe importance of resurrection in Easter

Answer 14

-shows that life after death is possible: God has the power to triumph over death
-Jesus’ mission did not end in failure

Question 15

How is Easter celebrated?

Answer 15

-Shrove Tuesday
-Ash Wednesday
-Palm Sunday
-Maundy Thursday
-Good Friday
-Easter Saturday
-Easter Sunday

Question 16

Describe what Shrove Tuesday celebrates

Answer 16

-marks beginning of Lent

Question 17

What is done on Shrove Tuesday?

Answer 17

-pancakes eaten to use up eggs, butter and sugar
-Lent is a time of fasting in preparation for Easter: remembers 40 days of temptation of Jesus

Question 18

What does Ash Wednesday celebrate?

Answer 18

The day when Christians get ‘ashed’ with ash from burnt palm crosses

Question 19

What is does Ash Wednesday symbolise?

Answer 19

-As symbolises repentance for sinfulness
-Lent is supposed to be a time when Chrsitians think critically about their lives and repent of their sins in preparation for Easter

Question 20

What does Palm Sunday recall?

Answer 20

-day Jesus entered into Jerusalem triumphantly riding a donkey
-people waved palm leaves and shouted ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’

Question 21

What is done on Palm Sunday?

Answer 21

-Christians re-enact the procession and walk to the church
-sometimes a member of the congregation (usually a child) will dress up as Jesus and ride a donkey
-Palm crosses given out in church as a reminder of the event
-Title ‘son of David’ is a reminder that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s chosen one and a descendant of King David

Question 22

What does Maundy Thursday recall?

Answer 22

-the ‘mandatum’ or commandment when Jesus told his disciples “love one another as I have loved you” during the Last supper

Question 23

What happens on Maundy Thursday?

Answer 23

-Service often contains a foot washing ceremony in memory of Jesus’ washing of his disciples’ feet
-Jesus told his disciples that they should be willing to do the same for others

Question 24

What does Good Friday recall?

Answer 24

-day Jesus was crucified
-Christians believe Jesus died to atone for the sins of mankind, and through his death he redeemed the debt of sin

Question 25

What happens on Good Friday?

Answer 25

-long service to recall time Jesus spent on the cross -some churches have stations of the cross which are pictures of different stages of Jesus' journey to crucifixion: the congregation may walk around the church from station to station and think and pray about each stage of Jesus' journey

Question 26

What does Easter Saturday recall?

Answer 26

wait for resurrection

Question 27

What happens on Easter Saturday?

Answer 27

-traditionally at night -paschal candle lit from a bonfire and five grains are put into the candle to symbolise the five wounds of Christ -candle symbolises Jesus as light of the world triumphing over death -traditional for Christians to renew their baptismal vows in this service

Question 28

What does Easter Sunday recall?

Answer 28

Resurrection of Jesus

Question 29

What happens on Easter Sunday?

Answer 29

-triumphant service celebrating Jesus' resurrection -If Church has an Easter garden, then stone is rolled away to show an empty tomb -celebratory communion shared -Easter eggs are a symbol of new life

Question 30

What are purposes of pilgrimage?

Answer 30

-visiting places of important events makes it easier to imagine them: makes them feel closer and more real and may help a person feel close to God -Many pilgrimage sites have miracles associated with them: may go in hopes of healing -Process of pilgrimage allows time for spiritual reflection -Pilgrimages can include an element of self sacrifice: someone might go on a pilgrimage as a type of penance -People sometimes go in groups: way of fostering unity

Question 31

Describe what is in Bethlehem for pilgrimage

Answer 31

-place of Jesus' birth -There is the 'Church of Nativity' which is supposed to mark the site of Jesus' birth: built originally by Emperor Constantine and rebuilt in the 6th century although much from from earlier survives -door was originally very big but stone has been added to make it small so people must bow to enter: Philippians 2:9 says "at the name of Jesus every knee must bow" -14 point star marks where Jesus was born -Hollow stone slab is supposed to be the manger where Jesus was placed -Many Christians go during Christmas and celebrate midnight mass -important as David's city

Question 32

Describe Jerusalem for pilgrimage

Answer 32

-Church of the Holy Sepulchre is on the supposed site of site of crucifixion -Originally two churches by Emperor Constantine but were destroyed and rebuilt by Crusaders -Site of all the other events from holy week: entry into Jerusalem, Last Supper, Jesus' trial, Resurrection -Christians might go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem during Easter -also holy to Jews and Muslims

Question 33

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 33

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 33

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 33

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 33

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 33

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine

Question 34

Describe Canterbury for Christians

Answer 34

-mother church of the Church of England -contains tomb of murdered Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury -martyred in 1170 and made a saint only three years later: in medieval times many people would pray for healings at Becket's shrine -King Henry II supposed to have had him murdered performed penanced by walking barefoot through streets of Canterbury -pilgrimage site for hundreds of years