Celebration and Pilgrimage Flashcards
When was Christmas Day traditionally?
21st December because it is the shortest day of the year and shows Jesus bringing light into the world “fully man, fully God”
Who moved Christmas to December 25th?
Pope Gregory updated the western calendar in light of developments in modern science.
What happens in the build up to Christmas?
Advent is the penitential season in which Christians spiritually prepare for the incarnation
Christmas eve is the service of lessons and carols to celebrate Gods becoming flesh
Wreath- used to mark advent by Catholics and Orthodox
What is meant by ‘Penitential Season’?
People who try and cleanse and purify their souls before Jesus’ Birthday
How is Christmas Day typically celebrated?
By a nativity scene
Catholic and Anglican churches have midnight mass
Christians typically give presents to celebrate Gods gift of his son
Sometimes a communion service
Wise men added to nativity scene on epiphany although sometime they are added on Christmas day
What is the epiphany?
It signify the end to Christmas (6th January) as that the day the 3 wise men (magi) came to visit Jesus and gave him gifts
Why are the three wise men significant?
They are not one religion so mean something to everyone t shows Christianity is universal
It is symbolic that they were at the birth of Christ
What does Easter celebrate?
Easter celebrates Jesus rising from the dead (resurrection)
What is Lent?
Lent is 40 days, and it remembers Jesus’ 40 days in the desert being tempted (greed, power, and the angels will save him) and it happened straight after his baptism (by John the baptist)
Why is Easter significant to Christians?
-Shows Jesus died for our sins
God’s nature was confirmed (omnipotent and omnipotent)
-Fulfills the messianic tradition- prophecy that a savior would come
-The story acts s guidance for hot to lead by serving (Jesus washed the disciples feet)
-It’s an opportunity for Christians to reflect as penitent followers in lent
How is Easter typically celebrated?
- Ash Wednesday
- Palm Sunday
- Mounday Thursday
- Good Friday
- Easter Sunday
- Lat supper
What is Ash Wednesday?
It marks the beginning of lent (40 days before Easter Sunday) and it gives Christians an opportunity to become penitent and give up something like Jesus did in the wilderness of the desert
What is Palm Sunday?
Its the day Jesus came into Jerusalem
He was welcomed by Palm leaves being waved and people laying on them
What is Moundy Thursday?
It’s when Jesus said one of his disciples would betray him
What is Good Friday?
Marks the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross (5 wounds)
Catholics have a cross in church with Jesus and his wounds on to signify healing whereas protestants just have a plain cross
Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday
What is Easter Sunday?
it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus (3 days after his crucifixion)
The first person to see him after this was Mary Magdalene which shows Jesus Chooses a Woman- shows men and woman have equal rights
Lighting candles show Jesus bringing light into the world
What is the last supper?
Bread and the wine
“this is my body”- Catholics
“do this in memory of me”- protestants
Why do Jews and Christians have a different celebration day?
Christians thought Jesus was their Messiah but Jews didn’t
What is a pilgrimage?
A spiritual journey a theist takes to help them feel closer to God
What happened at Bethlehem?
Jesus was born here (God became man- incarnation)
He kissed the star marking the place of JC birth
“God became man”
Going here allows Christians to reconnect with Mary and Joseph and their struggle to travel 700miles whilst Mary was pregnant)
Why is Vatican City significant?
It has a large piece of the ‘true cross’ that Jesus was crucified on is enclosed in the alter
St Peters Basilica (toombe\) is here and he was the first pope to live
Vatican is the largest church in the world
What happened at Jerusalem?
This is where Jesus was buried and first seen alive here after his resurrection- the first person to see him was a woman which shows Jesus representing equality
Many pilgrims pour oils on stones and rub it and wipe it off to take home as a relic
People come here to walk the same route that Jesus walked after his crucifixion “the way of sorrows”
Why do people go on pilgrimages?
To feel connected to God and embrace the spirit
They use it to take a step out of busy life
What did Martin Luther say about pilgramidges?
He said that nowhere in the bible did it say to go on a pilgrim
You also don’t need to go places to see God because he is omniscient
