2.3.8
Christmas & Easter
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Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th and is the traditional festival remembering Jesus’ birth.

Incarnation
- Christians believe in the incarnation, that Jesus was ‘God made man’.
- ‘But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”’ [Luke 2 : 10 -12 NIV].

Family tradition
- Christmas is often seen as a family occasion recalling the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
- It is also a time of giving and receiving presents, which remember the occasion when the wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newly born Jesus.
- Christians often go to church on Christmas day, sometimes to celebrate Mass (the Eucharist) at Midnight.

Commercialisation
- Some Christians fear that in Britain, and other countries, the festival has become too commercial, focused on gifts and food rather than its spiritual meaning.
- Some people in Britain today want to remove the Christian meaning of Christmas, because not all people are Christians, and refer to it as the ‘winter holiday’.
Easter
Easter is a celebration in the Spring, though the actual date can vary, and celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Christians believe the death of Jesus saved them from sin, and his resurrection allowed them the hope of eternal life.

Good Friday
- The word Easter also often refers to the days before Easter Sunday, including Good Friday which remembers Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.
- On Good Friday, Christians go to church to remember the events of Jesus’ suffering and death.

Celebrations
- Because Christians recognise that there are fewer Christians in Britain today, some also often perform a ‘passion play’ and walk through the streets with a cross as a witness to their beliefs.
- Many Christians attend an Easter Vigil on the Saturday night in which a fire is lit, and the light symbolises the resurrected Jesus.
- This is followed by a special Eucharist that celebrates that Jesus conquered death.

Biblical account of Easter
- ‘The men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” Then they remembered his words.’ [Luke 24:5-8]
1Buddhism
1.1Key Beliefs
1.2Practices
2Christianity
2.1Key Beliefs
2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3Worship & Festivals
3Catholicism (Christianity)
3.1Key Beliefs
3.2The Seven Sacraments
4Islam
4.1Key Beliefs
4.2Authority
5Judaism
5.1Key Beliefs
5.2Covenant & The Mitzvot
Jump to other topics
1Buddhism
1.1Key Beliefs
1.2Practices
2Christianity
2.1Key Beliefs
2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3Worship & Festivals
3Catholicism (Christianity)
3.1Key Beliefs
3.2The Seven Sacraments
4Islam
4.1Key Beliefs
4.2Authority
5Judaism
5.1Key Beliefs
5.2Covenant & The Mitzvot
Practice questions on Christmas & Easter
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- 1
- 2
- 3Features of the Christmas celebration:True / false
- 4Features of the Easter festival:True / false
- 5What does the Christian festival of Easter celebrate?Multiple choice
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