4. Festivals: Christmas and Easter

What is a festival?

a day or period of celebration

What is a key misconception about Christmas?

• People often write that Christmas was whe Jesus was born, but it was not when Jesus was born

• It was a festival to remembe when Jesus was born

• It is v important to make this distinction clear in exam questions bc you will not be given marks otherwise

What is Christmas?

• a festival to celebrate and remember the incarnation of Jesus

What is Advent?

• the countdown to Christmas within the church over 4 weeks leading up to Christmas where candles are lit

Why do Christians use Advent as a time to prepare?

• it is a time to relfect on actions of the year and see if you are living a Christlike life

• time to pause and get in the mindset of understanding the importance of Christmas (not getting swept up in the santa of it all)

• time to reconnect with family - a central value in Christianity

What are the different themes of Advent and why are they importat?

• hope

• joy

• love

• peace

• these help cultivate good qualities before Christmas

What do Orthodox Christians do during Advent?

Fast for 40 days, not eating red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, oil and wine

What is the point of navities for Christians?

Navities are important because it helps pass down and educate people (specifically children) + potrays the incarnation

Why is singing carols important?

songs are sung to celebrate the birth of Jesus and they ususally collect money for Charity

Giving to others shows agape love and genorosity and singing carols shouws devotion (FWAID)

Why is giving gifts important to Christians?

• Replicates the wise men giving gifts

• Jesus was the gift tothe world and fixed the relationship

What are non religious ways to celebrate Christmas?

• sending cards

• decorating the house

• visiting family

What is the importance of Christmas for Christmas?

1. Opportunity for Christians to be Christlike and show love (e.g Advent Wreath candle as focus)

2. Remembers Jesus’ birth and incarceration

3. Spiritually brings community together and model family, Nativity play teaches about Christmas (‘Go make disciples of all nation’)

What is Easter?

a three day festival to celebrate and remember the resurrection and crucifixion of Christ

Why do Christians celebrate Easter?

it remembers Jesus’ sacrifice

How do palm leaves help Christians celebrate Eater?

people are given palm crosses to remember Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem

How does Maundy Thursday help Christians celebrate Eater?

When Jesus had his last meal. The Eucharist was established. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples- ‘no master is greater than his servant’: Catholics will do the Eucharist and a priest will wash the feet of volunteers

How does Good Friday help Christians celebrate Eater?

• good friday services: veneration of the Cross: solemn afternoon services are attended around 3pm (when Jesus is to die). They pray and reflect on the crucifixion as this brought about atonement for humanity. They kneel or kiss a wooden cross to show devotion.

• Good Friday fasting: fasting between 9am and 3pm as this is the time believed that Jesus was on the cross.

How does Easter Sunday help Christians celebrate Eater?

celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Traditional greetings to each other: “Christ is risen” and the response is “He is risen indeed”.

How do flowers in Church help Christians celebrate Easter?

symbolic of Jesus rising from the dead: flowers grow out of bulbs in darkness.

How does visiting graves help Christians celebrate Easter?

many Christians will visit cemeteries because the resurrection proved that death is not the end and so Christians are reminded that they will be reunited with their loved ones.

How do Easter eggs help Christians celebrate Easter?

representing the empty tomb and new life (like a chicken egg). There are often marks on the egg that seem to be like cracks- like the cracks in the tomb when the resurrection happened.

16 Marks: Easter is more Important than Christmas (Agree)

• Easter proves death is not the end and there is an afterlife

• atonement

• prophecy is fulfilled

• “I will destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days”

16 Marks: Easter is more Important than Christmas (Disagree)

• Incarnation

• Displays love