Christianity: What Are The Major Holidays?
Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with an estimated total of 2.38 billion followers. This ancient system of belief is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, whom Christians revere as the Son of God and the physical manifestation of the reigning, Emmanuel. Christianity carries a long and storied history and has a number of important holidays, which are embedded into its rich tradition.
At the core of Christianity’s major holidays are two annual celebrations throughout the year: Christmas, a mid-winter festival centering around the birth of Jesus, and Easter, a late-spring feast marking the resurrection of Jesus. These are two of the most significant holidays of Christianity, and they draw millions of people around the world annually who celebrate with worship services, religious parades, feasts, gift giving and holiday customs.
However, there are also an array of other solemn occasions and commemorations throughout the year. One of the oldest holidays among Christians is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the period of Lent. During this season, Christians prepare for Jesus’ death with fasting, prayer, alms-giving and repentance. The season lasts for 40 days and approaches the commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection on Good Friday and Easter.
The Ascension of Jesus marks the end of the Easter period and celebrates the ascension of Jesus into Heaven after He rose from the dead. Pentecost, which follows 50 days after Easter, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and marks the start of the church. Religious feasts, processions and performances of hymns and prayers mark Pentecost.
The Feast of Corpus Christi is an important Catholic holiday, which celebrates the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The Advent period prior to Christmas marks the preparation for the coming of Jesus, and many churches observe a ritual of Advent Calendars, which incorporates daily readings of scripture, prayer, fasting and meditation.
Finally, All Saints’ Day celebrates the entire church of faithful individuals, while All Souls’ Day commemorates Christian souls who have died and awaits the ruling at Jesus’ Second Coming. Together, these holidays constitute the biggest events in the Christian calendar and serve to enrich and deepen the faith of millions of people worldwide.
Commemorations of Jesus’ Birth and Death
Christmas is a special day when Christians remember the birth of Jesus through attending church services and celebrating the story of the Nativity. This event is often celebrated by reading the gospel of Luke and singing Christmas carols. Furthermore, Presbyterian churches often celebrate the creation of Jesus’ mother Mary’s impeccable conception.
In contrast, Good Friday remembers Jesus’ death as he hung on the cross in Jerusalem. Churches often hold ‘services of the word’ in remembrance of this and sermons may be delivered on the subject. For example, a preceding service held on the Thursday may include a biblical re-enactment of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples.
In some customs of Christianity, Easter Sunday is an important festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Churches may hold sunrise services, hold processions and sing Easter hymns. The holiday also serves to symbolise new life for those who follow Jesus. The Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper usually precedes the service, both of which explain the sacrament of communion.
The Role of Tradition
Christianity is an observant religion, and religious ritual is key in celebrating the major holidays of the faith. These traditions and customs are sometimes heavily embedded in the local culture. For example, Epiphany, a Christian festival on the 6th day of January, is celebrated in Ethiopia with the Timket, a three day, colourful festival featuring musical processions, pageantry and dance.
In Guatemala, families decorate the graves of their relatives to mark All Souls’ Day. Sometimes, they bring presents and food to their deceased loved ones, in order to honour them. In Colombia, street processions are held both on Good Friday and Easter as a form of honouring Jesus and his suffering and resurrection.
The re-enactment of the Nativity story is popular among many Christian denominations. These re-enactments are usually preceded by a solemn procession. For example, in Malta, the traditional village Nativity is called ‘la Festa’ and it is held in churches. During this event, participants dress up in elaborate costumes and often involve live animals that symbolise the animals in the stable.
The Significance of Holidays
These religious holidays are symbols of Jesus’ saving power to millions of Christians around the world. While each holiday has unique celebrations and beliefs, they all share the same spiritual and emotional significance. The holidays offer an opportunity for Christians to engage in physical, emotional and spiritual renewal and to strengthen their relationship with their faith.
The holidays also provide an ideal platform to involve entire families in religious activities and to understand the power and relevance of Christianity in the modern world. They foster solidarity amongst believers and serve to strengthen Christian values and beliefs. Perhaps most importantly, they remind followers of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and remind them that He is always with them.
Observance of Holidays
Christian holidays are observed differently depending on the denomination, with some evangelical churches of lower liturgical tradition holding services once per week, while more high church tradition like the Anglican, Lutheran, and Catholic churches holding more frequent services and sacraments.
In lesser liturgical traditions, celebrating the holidays involves convening a ‘special service’ usually with the pastor or the priest delivering a sermon. Meanwhile, in more traditional churches, the services are often more elaborate with preachers, cantors and choirs giving performances of holy hymns on the day. Churches may also appoint ordained religious leaders, dressed in official vestments, to conduct ceremonies on the particular day.
Changing Practices
In contemporary times, the celebration of Christian holidays continues to evolve, as churches adapt to changing times and embrace new forms of worship. In recent years, the use of social media outreach has enabled communities of faith to share religious messages and evoke a sense of spirituality that reaches far and wide.
For instance, Christmas mass is now regularly streamed on the internet and is made available to people of all beliefs, so that no one is excluded from the experience. This has led to a growth in the number of churchgoers and a renewed interest in Christian related activities.
Moreover, many groups have started to adapt traditional methods of Christianity to appeal to the younger generations and to encourage a deeper level of engagement within their faith. For instance, youth organisations are now increasingly incorporating modern-day technology into their practice and celebrating their religious identity in a format that is more accessible and understandable to younger generations.
Inter-Faith Observance of Holidays
Interfaith observance is becoming increasingly commonplace. During the annual Advent period, Jewish and Christian denominations join together to sing carols in interfaith prayer circles and to share the same messages of peace, love and understanding. Similarly, non-religious individuals are often encouraged to join in with the religious celebrations.
Interfaith dialogues, where religious scholars and representatives interact to provide international perspectives on particular holidays, are also gradually becoming more popular. Such discussions offer a chance to deepen spiritual understanding and to foster relationships between people of different beliefs.
In the age of globalised communication, promoting interfaith understanding is becoming an increasingly important task for religious groups all over the world. Holidays, therefore, have the potential to be a unifying force, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and helping to create a more tolerant and equitable world.
