Celebrations
Christmas
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, as described in the The teachings of Jesus and the apostles. of Matthew and Luke. The actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown, but the Western Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December and the Eastern Church celebrates it on 6 January.
Christian churches hold events for people in need, as the idea of Christmas is to spread love and peace. For example, a church might provide a space to give food and temporary shelter to people in need. There are church services with carols on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as Christians thank God for his gift of Jesus.
In the UK, Christmas is celebrated in both a religious and a Unconnected with religion. way. Christmas Day is a national holiday and many Christians, as well as many non-religious people and people of other faiths, have parties with food and gifts. Christmas is sometimes criticised for being too Associated with business and profit..
Advent
The four weeks leading up to Christmas; during this period, Christians anticipate the story of the Nativity. is the season leading up to Christmas. In Western Christianity, Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas Day. In Eastern Christianity, Advent begins in mid-November.
The word comes from the Latin adventus, which means ‘arrival’. During this period, Christians prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, or ‘arrival’, at Christmas. The last day of Advent is Christmas Eve.
Key events during Advent
Image caption, Christians count down to Jesus’ arrival using an Advent wreath and four candles - one to symbolise each of the four Sundays in Advent
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