Festivals

• Christmas

  Annual celebration of Jesus' birth
• Easter

  Annual festival of Jesus' death and resurrection. Christian version of the Jewish Passover.
• Christmas in Western Churches

  Celebrated on 25th December.

  Preceded by four weeks of Advent, anticipating the incarnation and the Parousia (second coming of Christ).

  Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year.

  The liturgical colour of advent is purple, Gaudete Sunday is rose.

  Customs include advent wreaths, advent calendars and Christmas decorations.

  A season of penitence, no longer fasting.

  Carol services and Nativity plays are very popular.

  Christmas day: Three Eucharists take place, day of feasting and sharing gifts.
• Christmas in Eastern Churches

  Celebrated on 7th January

  Preceded by 40 days of the Nativity fast, where certain foods such as meat, poultry, dairy etc are abstained from.

  The Eve of the Nativity (Paramony) is a day of strict fasting.

  Liturgical colour is red and gold.

  Christmas day is a day of feasting and family, but places little emphasis on sharing gifts.
• Easter in Western Churches

  Proceeded by 40 days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, a day of practising penitence and self-denial.

  Key dates include: Laetare Sunday, Passion Sunday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

  A vigil is held on Holy Saturday.

  Easter is a joyous celebration of the resurrection.

  The liturgical colour of Lend is purple, liturgical colour of Easter is white.
• Easter in Eastern Churches

  Preceded by Great Lent, the most important fasting period of the year which has a three week preparation.

  Great Lent begins on Clean Monday.

  Each day in Holy Week is 'Holy and Great' and has a particular theme.

  The last liturgical event of Lent is the Midnight Office, which is the first part of the Paschal Vigil.

  Easter week is known as Bright Week, the greeting is 'Christ is risen'.

  Easter is a day of prayer.