Christianity - Festivals & Pilgrimage | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Christian Festivals

• Christian festivals are significant occasions for commemorating religious events and engaging in collective worship. 
• These festivals offer Christians opportunities to reflect on and celebrate their faith. 
• The two most widely observed festivals are Christmas and Easter.

Christmas and Advent

• Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, with the term "Advent" meaning "coming" or "approaching."
• This period is a time for Christians to prepare for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus.
• In many churches, a candle is lit on each of the four Sundays during Advent.
• Christmas, meaning "Christ’s Mass," marks the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25th.
• Many Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches hold a Midnight Mass to usher in Christmas Day.
• Most Christians attend church services on Christmas morning to celebrate.
• Services typically include prayers, a sermon, and the singing of Christmas carols.
• Some churches recreate the Nativity scene to honor the event.
• Services may continue in the days following Christmas until Epiphany on January 6th.
• Christmas celebrates the Incarnation, the belief that God took human form in Jesus.

Easter and Lent

• The Easter festival spans over 40 days, beginning with Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and continuing with Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.
  • Lent is a season when Christians reflect on their sins, a practice known as penitence.
  • While Lent was traditionally a time of fasting, today many Christians choose to give up something they enjoy.
  • Lent recalls the 40 days and nights Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness.
  • On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, ashes are placed on believers’ foreheads as a sign of repentance for their sins.
• Easter commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, reminding Christians of His sacrifice.
• The festival underscores God’s immense love, demonstrated through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, offering hope for eternal life and salvation.
• The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian belief, making Easter the most significant festival for many Christians.

As stated in 1 Corinthians 15:14: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

• Holy Week, the period surrounding Easter, recalls the events from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to His resurrection.

Holy Week

Palm Sunday

• Significance: Marks the start of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
• Celebration: Churches often distribute palm branches to the congregation, reenacting the celebration of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday

• Significance: Commemorates the Last Supper, held the night before Jesus’ death, when He washed His disciples’ feet and said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).
• Celebration: Many churches hold a Communion service and perform a foot-washing ceremony, reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice and His call to love and serve others.

Good Friday

• Significance: Remembers the crucifixion of Jesus.
• Celebration: Special services are held, often in the afternoon, with some lasting three hours to mark the final three hours of Jesus’ life when darkness covered the land. It is a day of mourning and reflection. Some Christians attend services recounting Jesus’ crucifixion, and some may fast to express sorrow. Catholic churches remove decorations from altars and silence bells as a sign of grief.

Easter Sunday

• Significance: Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.
• Celebration: Some churches hold services on Saturday night, with all churches offering services on Sunday morning. Churches are adorned with flowers, and special hymns are sung to celebrate the resurrection. Orthodox Christians process around the church at midnight on Saturday, entering a darkened church with lit candles or lamps to symbolize entering the empty tomb, with the priest proclaiming, “Christ is risen!” Catholics and Anglicans hold a Saturday night vigil, starting in darkness, lighting a large Paschal candle to represent the risen Christ (the Light of the World), and concluding with Holy Communion. Eggs are a symbol of Easter, representing new life.

Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage in Christianity

• A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken by a believer to a sacred site for religious purposes.
• The act of pilgrimage itself is a form of worship and devotion.
• While not mandatory in Christianity, pilgrimage sites are special places that enhance spiritual growth.
• Certain locations are considered significant in Christianity for various reasons.
• Some Christians visit Jerusalem due to its connection to Jesus’ life and death.
• Roman Catholics may travel to Rome, the residence of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church.

Reasons for Christian Pilgrimage

Pilgrimages hold various meanings for Christians:

• The Bible describes Jesus and His parents making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, inspiring some Christians to follow their example.
• Some believe pilgrimage sites offer physical or spiritual healing.
• Pilgrimages may be undertaken to seek God’s forgiveness.
• They can help deepen faith or focus on religious devotion.
• Pilgrimages foster a sense of community by connecting Christians with shared beliefs.
• Some Catholics visit shrines, such as Lourdes, where they believe the Virgin Mary appeared.
• Protestants may visit peaceful places like Iona for Bible study and prayer.
• Certain Christians view pilgrimage as unnecessary, emphasizing the internal spiritual journey over physical visits to holy sites.

Examples of Christian Pilgrimage

Lourdes

• Lourdes, a town in southwestern France at the foot of the Pyrenees, is a key pilgrimage site for Roman Catholics seeking healing.
• In 1858, a 14-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, reported 18 visions of the Virgin Mary.
• A bishop investigated her claims, and the numerous healings attributed to the spring water at Lourdes, along with her accounts, were deemed credible.
• A spring appeared, and miraculous healings are said to have occurred.
• Approximately 2 million people visit Lourdes annually, many of whom are sick or disabled.
• While few experience physical healing, most return with a profound sense of God’s love and peace.
• Catholics visit Lourdes for reasons beyond healing, including:
  • Cleansing from sin.
  • Bathing in the water as a symbol of baptism.
  • Praying at a sacred site.
  • Experiencing the religious atmosphere.
  • Praising God.
  • Seeking a vision or religious experience.

Iona

• Iona is a small island off the southwest coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides.
• In 563 AD, Columba and 12 followers arrived, built a Celtic church, and established a monastic community.
• Iona has since become a pilgrimage and retreat destination for Christians of various denominations.
• It symbolizes Christian unity, demonstrating that different Christian groups can live, work, and worship together.
• The Iona community follows specific rules, including regular worship, sharing resources, meeting with other members, performing chores, and preparing meals.
• Time is set aside for silence, reflection, meditation, reading the Bible or holy books, and appreciating the island’s natural beauty.
• Christians visit Iona to grow spiritually and strengthen their faith.