festivals and pilgrimage

• Christmas


  The festival which celebrated the birth of Jesus
• Christmas is celebrated by the Western Churches on 25th of December and 12 days later by the Orthodox churches
• No one knows when Jesus was actually born, there are a number of competing theories as to why December 25th was chosen, the most popular/frequently cited is that this was the date of the Roman festival of Saturnalia
• Nativity


  Jesus' birth, described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke
• Central points from the Nativity

  • Jesus was born to a woman called Mary
  • Mary was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter
  • Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant
  • Mary was visited by an angel who brought the message that she would give birth to God's Son
  • Joseph was visited by an angel
  • Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem in order to take part in a census
  • There was no space in the inn for Mary and Joseph
  • Jesus was laid in a manager (a trough for feeding animals)
  • Shepherds were led by an angel
  • Wise men followed a star, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh
• For most of Christian history, there was little other than going to church which marked Christmas as special. Although there were some celebrations, these were low key compared to today
• Oliver Cromwell banned the celebration of Christmas in the 1640s because it encouraged 'liberty to carnal and sensual delights'
• It wasn't until the Victorian period that the celebrations returned. During this time the making of cribs resurfaced
• Nativity crib


  A display of the birth of Christ in the stable setting with figures
• It is from the nativity crib that the tradition of Nativity plays arose
• Advent


  The preparation for Christmas, beginning 4 Sundays before Christmas Day
• What happens during Advent

  • In many churches and homes a candle, or wreath of candles, will be lit on each of the Sundays of Advent symbolising the approach of the birth of Jesus, the 'light of the world'
  • Traditionally advent was a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for the birth of Jesus / God's Incarnation
• Many churches hold carol services. The traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols tells the story leading up to (and including) the birth of Jesus through readings and music
• The significance of Christmas for Christians

  • Celebrates and recognises the INCARNATION
  • Remembers the coming of Jesus – the Messiah and Light of the World
  • It both brings to earth, and extends as a final promise, SALVATION
  • The conditions under which Jesus was born shows God identifies with the poor and marginalised
  • A time for charity – like the gifts of the wise men
  • A time when families come together
  • A celebration of the idea of peace – Jesus the 'Prince of Peace', e.g. the Christmas truce 1914
• Key events of Easter

  • Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey
  • Jesus eats the last supper with his disciples
  • Jesus washes his disciples feet
  • Jesus is arrested and lead away by the jewish leaders
  • Jesus is handed over to the romans and condemned to death
  • Jesus is laid in a tomb
  • Some women going to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus findit empty
  • Jesus appears to Mary Megdalene
  • Jesus appears to other disciples
• How Easter is celebrated today

  • Lent - Fasting for 40 days leading up to Easter, a sense of belief that we are wholly reliant on God for salvation
  • Palm Sunday - Churches mark the day with a procession, Palm Crosses given to those who attend church
  • Maundy Thursday - Many Christians hold a Eucharist
  • Good Friday - Churches and altars stripped of decorations, the story of the Passion is often read/sung, three hour service of readings and meditations on the crucifixion
  • Easter Saturday - Bonfire lit outside, prayers said, a large candle with Greek letters lit
  • Easter Day - Churches redecorated with gold or yellow cloth and flowers, Communion taken, hymns sung
• Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter, it is traditionally a time of fasting (this is where the practice of having pancakes on Shrove Tuesday came from). There is also a focus on penitence. Lent begins on ASH Wednesday, the ashes are a reminder for Christians of the sinful nature of humans and their belief that we are wholly reliant on God for salvation
• Holy week begins on Palm Sunday, and there are usually a number of services throughout the week in the lead up to Easter. Some Christians will go to church each day during this week
• What is celebrated on the days of Holy Week

  • Palm Sunday - Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, crowds shouted 'Hosanna' and waved palm branches
  • Maundy Thursday - Marks the night of Jesus' Last Supper with the disciples and the institution of the Eucharist
  • Good Friday - Marks the day of Jesus' crucifixion, altars and churches are stripped of decorations, the story of the Passion is read or sung, three hour service of readings and meditations on the crucifixion
  • Easter Saturday - Many Christians keep an all night vigil, a bonfire is lit outside, prayers are said, a large candle with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega is brought out and lit when Easter Day arrives
  • Easter Day - The day of Jesus' resurrection, churches redecorated, Communion taken, joyful Easter hymns sung
• The significance of Easter for Christians


  • It is the most important festival of the year
  • It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, therefore proving him to be Son of God and Messiah
  • It recognises the triumph of Good over Evil and Light over Darkness
  • It recognises the sacrifice of Jesus and God's love in sending his Son to redeem the
  • It contains a promise of resurrection for those who believe – "Christ is the first fruits" according to St Paul in 1 Corinthians 15
  • It celebrates the justice and mercy of God
• Pilgrimage


  A sacred journey in which God is encountered through places, people and situations and pilgrim meets
• Why do people go on a pilgrimage?

  • Helps in a search for god
  • It helps people to be more aware of the passing away of their life, of their limited time on earth. It sets them thinking and helps them to work out a set of priorities
  • Helps discipline the spiritual life by making sacrifices and enduring hardship
  • To visit important placed in biblical stories and accounts. A pilgrimage helps bring thebible to life
  • To be healed (eg, lourdes)
• Reasons for Christian pilgrimage

  • The site was important in the life of Jesus
  • There have been apparitions of Mary (the mother of Jesus)
  • Places connected with saints
• Jerusalem


  A holy city for Jews, Muslims and Christians. Jesus spent his last week in Jerusalem and was crucified outside of the ancient citywalls, buried and rose again
• What do Christians do when they go to Jerusalem?

  • Visit sites connected with Jesus' last week
  • Visit the garden of Gethsemane
  • Go to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – the supposed site of the tomb of Christ
• Bethlehem


  Jesus was supposedly born in bethlehem, it is also the 'city of King David'
• What do Christians do when they go to Bethlehem?

  • Visit churches connected with the sites of the nativity
  • The Church of the Nativity – traditionally the site of the birth of Jesus
  • Pilgrims enter through a very low door, known as the door of humility
  • At the eastern end of the church is a grotto, a star marks the spot where Jesus was thought to have been born
  • On Christmas eve, there are processions of pilgrims from Manger Square to the church
• Lourdes


  Site of a famous vision experienced by a young girl called Bernadette, where the figure of Mary asked Bernadette to drink at the spring beneath her feet
• What do Christians do when they go to Lourdes?

  • Drink the water from the spring
  • Bathe in the spring water
  • Attend mass at one of the many churches
  • Participate in the candlelight procession which occurs every week and has thousandstaking part
  • Visit the grotto - the sight of St Bernadette's visions of Mary
  • Attend a service of healing, at which there is prayer for those who are sick
• Christian pilgrims now visit and pray in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes andworship at the grotto, where the vision is said to have taken place
• What Christians get from the Lourdes experience: Peace and a deep silence of prayer made simple and appealing, Fellowship made stronger and laughter more ready than ever, A place to which to bring doubts and scepticisim, but where, even where thosereservations remained, it did not matter, A place where it seemed overwhelmingly and satisfyingly normal to be a Christian,an Anglican and to live a life founded in the sacraments and prayer where to believeand practice faith was simple and natural, A place where the unlikely became possible, the flamboyant and even the absurdwere at home with the beauty of the holiness and where we could all be ourselves for a spell a lovely place and a lovely time, together for a time out of time with our fellow Christians and, without a shadow of doubt, with our God