Holy Week & Easter

Question 1

When does Easter take place?

Answer 1

It is a movable festivals that is celebrated at some point during Spring. It is linked to the Jewish festival of Peach or Passover.

Question 2

What precedes Easter?

Answer 2

Holy Week

Question 3

What does Easter celebrate?

Answer 3

The resurrection of Christ 3 days after his crucifixion.

Question 4

What is the tone or mood of Holy Week?

Answer 4

It is the most solemn week in the Christian year.

Question 5

What does Holy Week remember?

Answer 5

The last week of Jesus’ life

Question 6

What day begins Holy Week?

Answer 6

Palm Sunday

Question 7

What does Palm Sunday Commemorate?

Answer 7

Christ’s triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. (John 12).

Large crowds welcomed him waving palm leaves - this was the same crowd that shouted for his execution.

Question 8

What is the symbolism behind Palm Sunday?

Answer 8

Christian Clergy use Palm Sunday to help people to think about their own faith and how they might be being hypocritical.

Question 9

What happens on Palm Sunday?

Answer 9

Often large palm branches are carried in a procession. Small crosses are made out of palm leaf to symbolise the arrival in Jerusalem and the crucifixion on the cross. The palm crosses are the ones burnt on Ash Wednesday of the following year.

Question 10

What is Maundy Thursday?

Answer 10

The Thursday before Easter when Christians remember the last supper.
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the Eucharist (receiving of bread and wine - body and blood of Christ).
This was the night that Jesus was betrayed.

Question 11

Where does the word Maundy come from?

Answer 11

The Latin - mandate - meaning command - this is the command given by Jesus to love one another.

Question 12

What happened on Good Friday?

Answer 12

Jesus was crucified. This is sometimes called the Passion.

Question 13

Where in the Bible will you find reference to Good Friday?

Answer 13

Luke 23, John 19, Mark 15

Question 14

What does Easter commemorate?

Answer 14

The resurrection of Christ.

Question 15

How important is Easter to Christians?

Answer 15

It is the most important festival.
This is because Jesus rose from the dead and in doing so promises salvation and forgiveness for all Christians.
Christians believe that the resurrection shows that Jesus is the light of the world and that it proves that he is the true Messiah (saviour)

Question 16

What begins on Easter Saturday and continues into Easter day?

Answer 16

An Easter vigil - candles are lit and a service is usually held outside. This remembers those waiting for Jesus outside his tomb and that Jesus is the light of the world.

Question 17

What is the main belief associated with Easter?

Answer 17

Salvation following the resurrection - all who believed are saved from their sin.

Question 18

What is the name given to the Monday of Easter week and why is this day important to Christians?

Answer 18

Fig Monday
When Jesus cleanses the temple. Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Typically celebrated by Orthodox Christians.