Festivals

Question 1

What is a festival?

Answer 1

A day or period of celebration for religious reasons.

Question 2

What is Christmas?

Answer 2

The festival of 12 days that commemorates the Incarnation of Jesus, which is the belief that God became human in Jesus. The festival ends with the feast of the Epiphany.

Question 3

How is Christmas celebrated?

Answer 3

-exchanging gifts, which is important because of how it is symbolic of the Three Wise Men giving Jesus the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
- Lights represent Jesus as the light coming into the world.
- Nativity scenes and plays.
- Carol services and readings to show God’s promise of a saviour and the events of Jesus’ birth.

Question 4

reasons why the 25 of december was chosen to celebrate christmas

Answer 4

• 25/12 was the date for Saturnalia - a pagan celebration. choosing Christmas on this day encourages replacing paganism with Christianity
• there was a tradition that Jesus’ conception and death occurred on the same date. based on Passover, Christians fixed the crucifixion on the 25th of March. 9 months later is December 25th

Question 5

Importance of Christmas

Answer 5

• Christians thank God for and celebrate the incarnation with joy
• it is a time for both giving to and receiving form loved ones, so is a symbol of love shared
• it is a time to remember those who live in difficult circumstances - Christians should give generously to charities that support those in need
• jesus fufilled prophecies - he is the messiah

Question 6

What is Easter?

Answer 6

It is the festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. During Holy Week, Christians remember the events that led to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross on “Good Friday”. Easter ends with the feats of pentecost.

Question 7

ways people celebrate Easter

Answer 7

• in Rome, pope celebrates mass in st peters square. many RC pilgrims come to celebrate here
• many send Easter cards that have a picture or symbol associated with Jesus’ resurrection
• Easter eggs - used to be used in the early church to represent the resurrection of Christ and spiritual regeneration.
• Churches filled with flowers and hymns sung about ressurection.
• Orthodox christians walk around church at midnight on a saturday and light candles and lamps when church is dark - this symbolises women entering Jesus’ empty tomb
• catholics and anglicans also hold a night vigil on saturday but light a candle called a pascal candle to symbolise the risen christ.
• many churches also have morning service where breakfast is served, mainly eggs to symbolise new life.

Question 8

importance of easter

Answer 8

• considered most important christian festival as it celebrates ressurection
• proof that jesus is god and that he is the saviour

Question 9

easter consists of..

Answer 9

• Holy week - remember moments leading up to jesus crucifixion
• Good Friday - jesus crucifixion, specal processions held and led by a person carrying cross
• Saturday night - some hold services for resurrection and replicate women entering empty tomb
• Easter Sunday - rejoice jesus ressurection