Christianity
See also Roman Catholicism, Protestantism,
Orthodoxy, etc.
The establishment of Christ's divinity has been considered to happen at various times,
and there are various holidays to honor this.
Originally it was thought to have been upon the arrival of the Magi (Epiphany),
later it was said to be at birth (Christmas), or when the archangel Gabriel
spoke to Mary, or the Immaculate Conception, or even as far back as Mary's grandmother.
After the Church ordered that the Pagan festivals be Christianized,
many saints took on the attributes of previous gods.
Later, the cult of saints was abolished in the reformed Christian denominations.
 Creation, October 23. According to Bishop James Ussher (1581-1656),
God created the universe on October 23, 4004 BC.
That would make the universe 6000 years old in 1997 AD.
James Ussher was an Irish Archbishop whose chronology of Biblical history was widely
accepted throughout Christianity.
Annunciation, March 25. The announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of the incarnation of Christ.
It was placed in this day in order to be nine months before Chirstmas day.
Also known as Lady Day, or Quarter Day in England and Ireland where it is a traditional day to come up with the rent.
Assumption Day, August 15. A feast commemorating the Virgin Mary being taken up into heaven.
Christmas Season
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Advent is the season from Advent Sunday to Christmas.
Advent Sunday, Sunday closest to St Andrew's Day (Nov 30) (Nov 28, 2004). Begins the Advent season and the beginning of the ecclesiastical year.
Immaculate Conception, December 8. Honors the unique priveledge by which Mary was conceived by her mother without
the stain of original sin.
Nine Days Before Christmas, December 16-24. For some Roman Catholics this is the beginning of the Christmas season, where
each of the nine days represents one of the months Mary was pregnant with Jesus.
Christmas Day, December 25. Commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Childermas, December 28. By orders of King Herod, the children of Bethlehem were massacred in an attempt
to kill the baby Jesus.
The Irish call this
Cross Day and believe that anything begun on this day will turn out badly.
In Belgium, Mexico, and Columbia children play April Fools type pranks on this day.
Also known as
Holy Innocents' Day.
Feast of the Circumcision, January 1. A festival in honor of the circumcision of Christ.
Probably established by early Christians to replace the naughty Roman New Year celebrations.
Epiphany
Epiphany Eve, January 5. Also known as
Twelfth Night, and is the setting for Shakespeare's play
Twelfth Night.
Epiphany, January 6. This is a Catholic holiday celebrating the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by
John the Baptist, (especially) the visit of the Three Kings to the manger in Bethleham,
and the miracle at Cana, where Christ's power to perform miracles was shown
(he changed water into wine at the marriage feast).
The name means "manifistation." Also known as
Old Christmas, because it once commemorated the birthday of Christ,
before the Christmas holiday was established.
Also called
Feast of the Three Kings and
Twelfth Tide.
Transfiguration, August 6. Commemoration of the biblical event when Christ is changed in appearance on the mountain.
Observed by Roman Catholic and Anglican churches on August 6.
Observed by Lutherans on the sixth Sunday after Epiphany.
Shrovetide
Septuagesima, third Sunday before Lent (Feb 8, 2004).
Sexagesima, second Sunday before Lent (Feb 15, 2004).
Shrovetide. The three days before Ash Wednesday, which was once a time for
confession and absolution.
Shrove Sunday, Sunday before Ash Wednesday (Feb 22, 2004). Also Quinquagesima.
Shrove Monday, Monday before Ash Wednesday (Feb 23, 2004). Also called Rose Monday.
In Denmark, today is called
Fastelavn.
In Germany and Austria today
coincides with
Fasching (or
Feast of Fools).
Shrove Tuesday, day before Ash Wednesday (Feb 24, 2004). Today is the last day of Shrovetide, and a time of merrymaking before Lent.
Also known as
Mardi Gras.
Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter (Feb 25, 2004). The
Day of Ashes, is the first day of Lent, occuring forty days before Easter
not counting Sundays.
The ancient custom on this day is for the faithful to receive on the forehead the
sign of a cross marked with blessed ashes.
The palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned and the ashes are blessed for
the ceremony before the Mass.
Lent
Lent is the penitential season preceding Easter, observed with forty days of
fast in memory of Christ's forty days of fast in the desert.
Lent consists of forty weekdays and six Sundays.
The name is derived from the Middle English
Lente, and refers to the lengthening of the daylight hours. [eating fish
is a holdover from pagan things]
Quadragesima, first Sunday of Lent (Feb 29, 2004). May also mean the forty days of Lent.
Orthodoxy Sunday, first Sunday of Lent (Feb 29, 2004). Commemorates the restoration of the use of icons in the church (842 AD), and the
triumph over all heresies.
Laetare Sunday, fourth Sunday of Lent (Mar 21, 2004). Takes its name from the introit of that day which begins with "Laetare Jerusalem"
(Rejoice ye, Jerusalem).
Also known as
Mid-Lent Sunday. In England it is called
Mothering Sunday, and has its own customs.
Passion Sunday, fifth Sunday in Lent (Mar 28, 2004). Two weeks before Easter.
Also known as Judica.
Passiontide. The two-week period from Passion Sunday to Holy Saturday.
Passion Week. May refer to the week preceding Easter, also known as
Holy Week, or the week before Holy Week beginning with Passion Sunday.
Holy Week
Holy Week is the week preceding Easter Sunday.
Palm Sunday, Sunday before Easter (Apr 4, 2004). Commemorates Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday, Thursday before Easter (Apr 8, 2004). Commemorates Christ's Last Supper and His washing of the disciples' feet on that day.
Good Friday, Friday before Easter (Apr 9, 2004). The anniversary of the crucifixion of Christ.
Also known as
Holy Friday.
Holy Saturday, day before Easter (Apr 10, 2004).
Holy Thursday. Variously confused with Ascention Day or Maundy Thursday.
Easter
Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurection.
The resurection took place on Sunday, which was from then on the "Lord's Day".
After Easter
Rogation Sunday, Sunday before Ascension Day (May 16, 2004).
The Latin name is Vocem Juncunditatis.
Rogation Days are the three days preceding Ascention Day.
Ascension Day, ten days before Pentecost (May 20, 2004). Commemorates the Ascension of Christ.
A public holiday in may Roman Catholic nations.
Observed in some Carribean nations on May 12.
Pentecost, seventh Sunday after Easter (May 30, 2004). A festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles.
Also known as
Whitsunday, meaning "white Sunday", probably due to the white baptismal
robes worn on that day.
The origins are linked to the ancient Roman festival of Floralia.
Whitsuntide. The week beginning with Whitsunday, especially the first
three days of this week.
Also known as
Whit Week.
Whitmonday, day after Whitsunday (May 31, 2004). A holiday in Great Britain.
Trinity Sunday, Sunday after Pentecost (Jun 6, 2004). A festival in honor of the Trinity.
Corpus Christi, Thursday after Trinity Sunday (Jun 10, 2004). A festival in honor of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper.
The name means "body of Christ".
A public holiday in many Roman Catholic nations, especially in South America.
In the United States, Corpus Christi is observed on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.
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