This year I am learning about the Christian Year.
The Christian year is a tradition that many churches use through the year to celebrate the life events of Jesus. It consists of events before and after Christmas and Easter with 2 'ordinary times' in between. During ordinary times the weeks between the holidays are counted, similar to a count down. I am finding that the Christian year includes feasts, decorating traditions, and many other traditions such as the 12 days of Christmas. (ya know, the first day of christmas my true love gave to me...) Which I always though were days leading up to Christmas, but they are not. December 25th is the FIRST day and January 5th is called 'The Twelfth Day'.
Here is a list of the Christian Year. The dates, events, and names of events shift a little from church to church, but for 2010 here is a basic idea of the Christian year and what each event represents ( I will be delving a little more into a few of the traditions at a later date).
Epiphany January 6 - Celebrates the wisemens visit of baby Jesus
Ordinary time January 7- Feb 16 - Also called the season of epiphany where they count the weeks until lent. ( ie, first sunday of epiphany, second sunday of epiphany ect.)
Shrove Tuesday Feb 16 - Also known as Fat Tuesday is a preparation time for Lent which starts the next day.
Ash Wednesday Feb 17 - First day of Lent. Ashes are a reminder that we came from ash and will return to ash. (Ashes to ash and dust to dust)
Lent Feb 17-April 3 - The tradition is based on the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Today it is a time of self denial and reflection.
Holy week March 28-April 3 - This is the last week of Lent and the week just before Easter. It includes Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Which are the events surrounding Jesus's death.
Easter April 4 - Celebrates Jesus's resurrection
Pentecost May 23 - Remembering the day of Pentecost. 40 days after Jesus's ascension.
Ordinary time May 24- Nov 27 - These are counted until Advent.
Advent Nov 28- December 24 -Advent means coming or arrival, counting down to Christ and Christmas
Christmas Dec 25- January 5 -The twelve days of Christmas
HolidayHaven's home page.
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