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 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

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

4Islam

5Judaism

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