Pilgrimage & Celebrations

• Christmas and Easter are two of the most important Christian festivals.

• Christmas celebrates Jesus' birth.

• Easter celebrates Jesus rising from the dead.

• These festivals recall the central beliefs of Christianity:

• Incarnation.

• Jesus’ saving death and resurrection.

• Important holy places for Christians include:

  • The Holy Land.

  • Rome.

  • Iona.

  • Lourdes.

• Pilgrimage reminds Christians they are on a spiritual journey that will end with God in heaven.

• Some Christians think pilgrimages are not needed.

• They believe the important journey is inside a person’s heart.

• Lourdes is a town in southern France where Jesus’ mother Mary is said to have appeared.

• Catholics often visit Lourdes because they have a special devotion to Mary.

• In Lourdes, there are processions, special masses, and prayers.

• Some sick people go to Lourdes because they believe the water there is miraculous and can heal them.

• Iona is an island off the west coast of Scotland.

• It is linked to early Christianity in Britain, especially St Columba and his followers.

• These men built a monastery there in the 6th century and travelled to spread Christianity in Scotland and the north of England.

• Today, there is a monastic community in Iona that welcomes pilgrims and offers spiritual guidance.

• Christians of all denominations visit Iona to follow the steps of early Christian Saints.

• Christians believe they gain spiritual rewards by doing this pilgrimage.

• Other religions also have pilgrimages.

• Muslims travel to Mecca and other places linked to the Prophet Muhammad.

This journey is called Hajj.

• Many Hindus go on pilgrimage to the River Ganges, which they believe has the power to purify them spiritually.