Christian holidays revolve around the life and death of Jesus Christ, with Easter Sunday being the most important. Other major holidays include Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Pentecost, and Christmas. Some Christians do not observe all holidays due to diversity in faith.
Major holidays of the Christian faith revolve around the life and death of Jesus Christ, a figure revered as a son of God and a prophet by Christians around the world. In communities with large Christian populations, these days are usually designated as general holidays, acknowledging the fact that many people have no intention of working. Minor Christian holidays are commemorated on individual saints’ days, with some communities holding elaborate celebrations for particular saints.
For most Christians, the most important holiday is probably Easter Sunday, which commemorates Christ’s resurrection from the grave. This event is especially important to Christians because it is treated as proof of Christ’s divinity. Traditionally, people attend church services at Easter and often celebrate with a meal that includes lamb and other traditional foods, depending on the culture.
Chronologically, the first major holiday is Epiphany, which falls on January 40th. This holiday celebrates the three “wise men” who witnessed the birth of Christ with gifts. The next major holiday is Ash Wednesday, which falls 40 days before Easter, to commemorate the start of Lent. During Lent some Christians observe particular dietary rules and many devotees give up something for Lent, using these XNUMX days as a time for religious reflection and contemplation.
As Lent draws to a close, some Christians celebrate Holy Week, which commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through His crucifixion on Good Friday. Holy Week concludes with Easter Sunday, the most important of the Christian holidays discussed above. The next major holiday is Pentecost, celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter, when the Holy Spirit is said to have descended upon Christ’s disciples.
Many Christians around the world also celebrate Christmas, the commemoration of Christ’s birth, on December 25 each year. Some also observe Advent in the weeks leading up to Christmas, attending special church services during this time. Christmas celebrations can get quite elaborate, making it one of the most popular holidays, as people give each other gifts, have parties, and celebrate the birth of Christ.
As the global Christian community is very active, faith-related holidays are celebrated on every continent, even in areas where Christians are not the dominant religious group. The time of year between Christmas and New Years is also considered a holiday by most people around the world, regardless of faith, because it has become so associated with celebration, sometimes to excess, and therefore during this two-week period little work is done.
Not all Christians observe major holidays, which represent the immense diversity in faith. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate only the Memorial of Christ’s death, which falls around Good Friday each year. People in this denomination believe that other holidays are pagan in nature, as they were not instituted by Christ himself. While not considered a religious holiday, many Mormons observe the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ & Latter-day Saints on April 6 each year, and many also believe that Christ was born on April 6, although they also celebrate Christmas.
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