Celebrating festivals

• What is the role of festivals in Christianity?

  They help Christians remember major events and plan public worship.
• What are the two main seasons of the Christian calendar?

  Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany; Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
• What central teaching do Christians remember through festivals?

  That God gave his only Son to save them.
• What is the significance of Christmas in Christianity?

  • Commemorates the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus
  • Celebrated on 25 December in most churches
  • Season lasts 12 days, ending with the Epiphany
• What do lights and nativity scenes represent during Christmas?

  Lights represent Jesus as the light coming into the world, and nativity scenes show the baby Jesus being born in poverty.
• What activities do many churches hold during Christmas?

  Carol services, nativity plays, and Midnight Mass.
• What is the significance of exchanging gifts during Christmas?

  It recalls the wise men's gifts to Jesus.
• What is Easter in Christianity?


  • The most important Christian festival
  • Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
  • Begins on Easter Day and finishes with the feast of Pentecost
• What events do Christians remember during Holy Week leading up to Easter?

  They remember the events that led to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
• What happens on Good Friday?

  Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb.
• How do Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter?

  They walk around the church at midnight with lighted candles, symbolizing entering the empty tomb.
• What is the significance of the Paschal candle during Easter?

  It symbolizes the risen Christ and is lit during the Saturday night vigil.
• What activities are commonly held on Easter Sunday?

  • Churches are filled with flowers
  • Special hymns are sung
  • Open-air sunrise services and shared breakfasts, often with eggs
• How do the celebrations of Christmas and Easter help Christians?

  They reinforce the importance of belonging to a Christian community and understanding their faith.
• What is the opening prayer of the Catholic Midnight Mass at Christmas about?

  • Welcomes Jesus as the true light of the world
  • Asks for eternal joy in the kingdom of heaven
• What does the traditional hymn sung by Orthodox Christians at Easter proclaim?

  Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death.
• What should students understand about festivals for Christians?

  • The role and importance of festivals
  • How and why Christmas and Easter are celebrated