2.2 Festivals and Celebration Flashcards
Describe Christmas story
- Annunciation: Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would have a son
- Angel appears in dream tells Joseph that Mary’s baby was God’s son
- Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who’s pregnant with John the Baptist and they go to Bethlehem to be registered
- No room at the inn, so Jesus is born in a stable
- Angels appear to shepherds and shepherds visit Jesus.
- 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
- Offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh
- Joseph warned in dream that Herod plans to try and kill Jesus
- Joseph escapes to Egypt
What is the importance of Christmas?
-Incarnation
-Reveals Jesus’ mission
How does Christmas show Incarnation?
-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
What does Christmas reveal about Jesus’ mission?
-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
How is Christmas celebrated (list)?
-Advent
-Carol Services
-Christingles
-Crib
-Nativity play
-Midnight mass
-Present giving
Describe Advent
-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.
Describe Carol Service
-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.
Describe Christingles
-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
Describe cribs
-many churches will have a crib
-used as an educational device or an aid to meditation and prayer
Describe midnight mass
-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
Describe present giving
-reminder of gifts magi gave Jesus
-reminder of God’s gift of Jesus to the world
-way of sharing love
What is the importance of easter?
-Crucifixion
-Resurrection
Describe importance of crucifixion in Easter
-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
Describe importance of resurrection in Easter
-shows that life after death is possible: God has the power to triumph over death
-Jesus’ mission did not end in failure
How is Easter celebrated?
-Shrove Tuesday
-Ash Wednesday
-Palm Sunday
-Maundy Thursday
-Good Friday
-Easter Saturday
-Easter Sunday
Describe what Shrove Tuesday celebrates
-marks beginning of Lent
What is done on Shrove Tuesday?
-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
What does Ash Wednesday celebrate?
The day when Christians get ‘ashed’ with ash from burnt palm crosses
What is does Ash Wednesday symbolise?
-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
What does Palm Sunday recall?
-day Jesus entered into Jerusalem triumphantly riding a donkey
-people waved palm leaves and shouted ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’
What is done on Palm Sunday?
-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
What does Maundy Thursday recall?
-the ‘mandatum’ or commandment when Jesus told his disciples “love one another as I have loved you” during the Last supper
What happens on Maundy Thursday?
-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
What does Good Friday recall?
-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