Great Traditions for Celebrating the Christian Faith
According to ReligiousTolerance.com, 2 billion people, or 32 percent or the world population, identified themselves as Christians in 2000. However, many denominations, sects and traditions exist within the Christian population. Because of this, Christians around the world celebrate their faith in a variety of ways. Some holidays and historical events stand out the most when it comes to celebrating the Christian faith.
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Christmas
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Christmas, known throughout the world for commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, is the second most commonly celebrated by Christians of different backgrounds. Easter is the most popular. Though a Christian holiday, Christmas is thought to have its origins in the European pagan celebrations of winter solstice, the time when the worst of the winter had passed and longer, sunnier days were ahead. Originally called the Feast of the Nativity, the Roman church instituted the birth of Jesus as a holiday in the fourth century A.D. The tradition quickly spread throughout the region and world.
Easter
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In the early days of Christianity, Easter, not Christmas, was the only holiday celebrated by the church. Today, it remains the holiday most celebrated by Christians worldwide. Christians celebrate Easter in a variety of ways, including attending a church service, sharing a meal with friends and family, and reading aloud Bible passages that relate the story of Jesus' death and rebirth.
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Communion
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Many Christian groups observe communion as set forth in Luke 22:19-20. This time immediately before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion is known as the Last Supper, when Jesus, according to the Bible, told his disciples to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him. Today, church congregations set aside a particular time to do just that. The Catholic church recognizes communion as Holy Communion or the Eucharist, where the wine and bread literally transform into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ before the congregation partakes.
Funerals
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Because the Bible has much to say about the Christian's life after death, Christian funerals are often perceived by some Christians as a time of celebration for the deceased person. The funeral might also be referred to as a "home-going" celebration for this reason. Christian funeral rites and traditions vary widely from group to group, but they largely consist of prayer, religious songs and hymns, reading Bible passages, and sharing memories of the deceased along with assurances that they have gone to heaven.
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