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 Church Seasons...
Epiphany - Candlemas - Lent - Easter - Pentecost



Epiphany

In Christianity, the Epiphany refers to the realisation that Christ is the son of God. Western churches generally celebrate the Adoration of the Magi as the incarnation of the infant Christ, and commemorate the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6.

Traditionally, Eastern churches celebrated Epiphany (or Theophany) in conjunction with Christ's baptism by John the Baptist and celebrated it on January 19; however, many have begun to adopt the Western custom of celebrating it on January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas. Protestant churches often celebrate Epiphany as a season, extending from the last day of Christmas till Ash Wednesday.

In Christian tradition, the Magi, also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men, (Three) Kings, or Kings from the East, are a group of distinguished foreigners who are said to have met Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity and in celebrations of Christmas. The Gospel of Matthew, the only one of the four Gospels to mention the Magi, states that they came "from the east" to worship the Christ, "born king of the Jews". Although the account does not tell how many they were, the three gifts led to a widespread assumption that they were three as well. Their identification as kings in later Christian writings is linked to Old Testament prophesies such as that in Isaiah 60:3, which describe the Messiah being worshipped by kings.

Many different theories of the meaning and symbolism of the gifts have been brought forward. While gold is fairly obviously explained, frankincense, and particularly myrrh, are much more obscure. The theories generally break down into two groups: All three gifts are ordinary offerings and gifts given to a king. Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable.

The three gifts had a spiritual meaning : gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priestship, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolising virtue, frankincense symbolising prayer, and myrrh symbolising suffering. These interpretations are alluded to in the verses of the popular carol 'We Three Kings" in which the magi describe their gifts. Myrrh was used as an embalming ointment and as a penitential incense in funerals and cremations until the 15th century. The "holy oil" traditionally used by the Eastern Orthodox Church for performing the sacraments of chrismation and unction is traditionally scented with myrrh, and receiving either of these sacraments is commonly referred to as "receiving the Myrrh".

It has been suggested by scholars that the "gifts" were medicinal rather than precious material for tribute.


Candlemas

Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. This day also marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem.

The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was met by Anna and Simeon. Simeon held the baby Jesus and called him a Light to the World.

Ritual purification stems back to a Jewish tradition that women were considered unclean after the birth of a child. For 40 days for a boy, and 60 days for a girl, women weren't allowed to worship in the temple. At the end of this time, women were brought to the Temple or Synagogue to be purified. After the ceremony women were allowed to take part in religious services again.

The festival is called Candlemas beacuse this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed.

On Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home.


Lent

Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Eve (sometimes called Easter Saturday). But if you look in a calendar or diary and count the days they come to more than 40! This is because you don't count the Sundays in Lent!

For Christians, Lent is a time to prepare for Easter and to think about their relationship with God. It represents the 40 days when Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the desert. During this time he didn't eat or drink anything. Because of this, some Christians give up some food or 'fast' for Lent. For some people this is giving up all food and just drinking, but for others, they just give up luxury food like chocolate or cream cakes! The Eastern Orthodox Church sometimes calls Lent 'The Great Fast'.

During Lent in Anglican churches, the altar is covered with a purple cloth. Purple is traditionally a royal colour and having a purple cloth on the altar helps people remember that Jesus is king and that he died at Easter. There are no flowers or any other decorations displayed in the church.

Lent started as a time that people that were being baptised, (a way of showing that you are a Christian). They would use Lent to prepare for their baptism on Easter Sunday. Over the years it has turned into a time of reflection and thought for all Christians.

In the U.K., Mothering Sunday is always on the middle Sunday of Lent. This was a day when servants and maids could have the day off work and go back and visit their families and especially their mothers. Now it is when Mums traditionally get the day off housework and have presents given to them.

The Last week of Lent is called Holy Week and helps people to think even more about the Easter Story.


Easter
Easter is a spring festival that celebrates the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Christ three days after his death by crucifixion. Easter is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year. All the Christian movable feasts and the entire liturgical year of worship are arranged around Easter.

Easter Sunday is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and repentence culminating in Holy Week, and followed by a 50-day Easter Season that stretches from Easter to Pentecost.



Pentecost
Pentecost (Whitsunday) is a major festival in the Christian church and is celebrated on the Sunday which falls on the 50th day after Easter. It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the followers of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament. Jesus had told them to wait until the Spirit came to them. Ten days after ascension, 50 days after the resurrection, the Spirit came. The name Pentecost comes from a Greek word which means 'fiftieth'.

The festival is often called Pentecost because when the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began to go out and preach about Jesus it was the Jewish festival of Pentecost. It is recognised as the birth of the Christian Church. The Apostle Peter preached a sermon which resulted in 3,000 people becoming believers.

Whit Sunday is a favourite day for baptism. It is thought that because people are often baptised dressed in white, Whit Sunday was probably originally known as 'White Sunday'. Whitsuntide is the week following with Whitsunday, which is always the seventh sunday after Easter Sunday.