Religious identity through diversity in festivals
Christmas
The English word Christmas is derived from the words ‘Christ’s Mass’. It is the celebration of the
birth of Jesus.
Advent in the Western Church
No one knows the exact date of Jesus’ birth. In Western Christianity, it is always celebrated on
the 25th December.
It has been suggested that the early Christians chose the date to replace the Roman winter
saturnalia, a festival that lasted from 17 to 23 December and particularly the Roman winter
solstice festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun).
Some of the symbols associated with Christmas are pagan in origin e.g. the custom of lighting
candles anticipates the return of sunlight.
In the western church Christmas is preceded by four weeks of preparation known as the season
of Advent (From the Latin word adventus = coming). Advent is the beginning of the Western
Church year.
It allows Christians to anticipate two events:
● The celebration of Jesus’ First Coming to earth as a baby boy
● Jesus’ second coming at the end of time (technical term: parousia).
The liturgical colour (the colour used for church hangings and clergy vestments) during Advent
is traditionally violet or purple, although blue, representing hope, is becoming increasingly
popular in Protestant churches.
On the Third Sunday of Advent known as Gaudete Sunday, a rose colour may be used.
Gaudete is a Latin meaning ‘Rejoice’.
Advent customs include:
An advent wreath, usually kept in church, but sometimes at home. The wreath has four candles
(three purple and one rose-coloured) one for each of the four Sundays in advent, and one
candle in the middle.
First candle: hope
Second: the prophets
Third: joy
Fourth: the annunciation (announcement of the incarnation by the angel Gabriel).
Fifth: Christ’s candle
Christmas
The English word Christmas is derived from the words ‘Christ’s Mass’. It is the celebration of the
birth of Jesus.
Advent in the Western Church
No one knows the exact date of Jesus’ birth. In Western Christianity, it is always celebrated on
the 25th December.
It has been suggested that the early Christians chose the date to replace the Roman winter
saturnalia, a festival that lasted from 17 to 23 December and particularly the Roman winter
solstice festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun).
Some of the symbols associated with Christmas are pagan in origin e.g. the custom of lighting
candles anticipates the return of sunlight.
In the western church Christmas is preceded by four weeks of preparation known as the season
of Advent (From the Latin word adventus = coming). Advent is the beginning of the Western
Church year.
It allows Christians to anticipate two events:
● The celebration of Jesus’ First Coming to earth as a baby boy
● Jesus’ second coming at the end of time (technical term: parousia).
The liturgical colour (the colour used for church hangings and clergy vestments) during Advent
is traditionally violet or purple, although blue, representing hope, is becoming increasingly
popular in Protestant churches.
On the Third Sunday of Advent known as Gaudete Sunday, a rose colour may be used.
Gaudete is a Latin meaning ‘Rejoice’.
Advent customs include:
An advent wreath, usually kept in church, but sometimes at home. The wreath has four candles
(three purple and one rose-coloured) one for each of the four Sundays in advent, and one
candle in the middle.
First candle: hope
Second: the prophets
Third: joy
Fourth: the annunciation (announcement of the incarnation by the angel Gabriel).
Fifth: Christ’s candle
