Christian Holidays

Ash Wednesday – The first day of Lent
Lent – Observed as the 40 day period before Easter. Begins on Ash Wednesday. It is a time for self-examination and preparation for Easter.
- Early on Christians used fasting as a visible way to demonstrate this process. Over the years they have relaxed the fasting rules. Today, only Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent are considered fasting days.
Palm Sunday – The Sunday before Easter. It marks Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday – Thursday before Easter. The day of Jesus’s last supper.
- The night before Jesus was crucified he had Passover supper with his disciples. (Passover is a Jewish holiday that celebrates God’s deliverance of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt.
- After supper, Jesus knew that this would be his final opportunity to instruct his disciples before the crucifixion, so he talked at length about his purposes, what his followers should do in response, and the promise of the Holy Spirit to come. He then washed his disciples’ feet in an incredible demonstration of humility and servanthood. Finally, he gave bread and wine to his disciples and asked them to partake of it in remembrance of him. The act of partaking bread and wine is called Communion (or the Last Supper) today.
Good Friday – The Friday before Easter. The day Jesus was crucified on the cross
Easter Sunday – Marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.
Pentecost – 40 days after Easter. The coming of the Holy Spirit.
Christmas – Birth of Jesus