Christmas

Christians celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25th. It follows a month of

preparation (Advent) and involved lots of festivities, school plays telling
the story of the nativity, exchanging Christmas cards and presents, special
meals, special decoration - very much like big festivals in other world
religions.
 Shrove Tuesday and Lent

Shrove Tuesday is four weeks before Easter. It is celebrated by making

pancakes and traditionally having pancake races etc. The idea is to use up
all of the rich food - eggs and flour ready for the month long fast to
prepare oneself for the Easter celebration.

On Ash Wednesday (the day after Shrove Tuesday and the start of lent)
Christians remember Jesus - they go to church and have the sign of the
cross marked on their foreheads in ash.

Holy Week:
 Palm Sunday - Maundy Thursday

On Palm Sunday - the first day of Holy week Christians remember when
Jesus rode into Jerusalem riding on a donkey - people threw palm leaves
down on the road like a red carpet might be laid in front of a king. Palm
crosses are given to the congregation to help them think about the week
ahead.

Maundy Thursday is a reminder of the last supper - when Jesus celebrated

the first communion with is apostles.

Good Friday
 The day that Jesus died on the cross. There are services in all Christian
churches at the time Christ was crucified. These are very solemn occasions
quite unlike what will occur three days later.

Easter Sunday
 The most important festival for Christians. It is a very joyous occasion
marked in churches by wonderful music and flowers. Out of church by the
exchange of cards and Easter eggs - a symbol of spring and new life as
Jesus' death brought new life to Christians.

Whitsun
 On the day of Pentecost when the Jews celebrated their harvest festival.
Jesus, his apostles and many people who followed him were together in
Jerusalem. Suddenly it seemed like a wind rushed through the crowd,
everyone suddenly could understand many languages new to them. It was
a visit from the Holy Spirit and he gave everyone there new power in their
bodies so that they could go and spread the word of God.