Christian Celebrations

What is what?

• Translation– Syncretism– Accommodation– Contextualisation– Inculturation– Imperialism

• Cultural demands– Felt needs and – Functional equivalents

Danish God påske

Dutch Vrolijk Pasen, Zalige paasdagen, Zalig Pasen

Esperanto Feliĉan Paskon

Estonian Häid lihavõttepühi

Faroese Gleðilig páskir

Fijian Vanuinui vinaka ni Siga ni Mate

Finnish Hyvää Pääsiäistä / Iloista pääsiäistä

French Joyeuses Pâques

Frisian (North) Fröiliken poosche

Friulian Buine Pasche

Galician Boas Pascuas

Georgian

(gilocavth გილოცავთ აღდგომას

aghdgomas) - frm

(gilocav aghdgomas) - გილოცავ აღდგომას

inf

(kʻriste aghdga) ქრისტე აღდგა

German Frohe Ostern

Greek (Modern)

Καλό πάσχα (Kaló pásha)

Χριστός ανέστη! (Hristós anésti) - Christ has

Risen

Αληθώς ανέστη! (Alithós anésti) - Truly he has

Risen (reply)

Haitian Creole Bònn fèt pak

Hawaiian

Hau ʻoli Pakoa

E ʻōlelo mālie

Hau'oli Ka La i Ala Hou ai Ka Haku

Hebrew (chag pascha same'ach) שמח פסחא חג

Hindi शु�भ ईस्टर (śubh īsṭar)

Hungarian

Kellemes Húsvéti Ünnepeket! (Pleasant Easter

Holidays!)

Áldott Húsvétot kívánok! (Wishing You a

Blessed Easter!)

Icelandic Gleðilega páska

Indonesian Selamat Paskah

Irish (Gaelic)Cáisc Shona Dhuit/Dhaoibh, Beannachtaí na

Cásca

Communicating the Message

Festivals in the Bible

• Feasts more than fasts– Three times a year– Every week– New Moon?– Plus a few …

Easter Dates• Jesus died at Passover : 14th day of a Hebrew month• Hebrew calendar: sun for years & moon for months• Jesus rose on a Sunday

• Christians wanted to celebrate the on a Sunday

“Easter” = Dawn

• Most languages call it “Passover” (Afrikaans)

• North illiterate before Romans/Christians

• No real evidence of a goddess “Easter” or an equinox feast

• Sunrise? Spring?

Eggs• Widespread & ancient in Easter– Life– Empty tomb

• Meaning in most cultures & religions

• Now part of Passover • After fasting from eggs

for Lent … – LOTS of eggs– Longing for eggs

• Given as gifts

Hares

• Very recent addition to Easter– Germany– Egg-laying hare

• Lots of old sayings and superstitions“The one to harvest the last standing corn must chase the hare.”“… like a March Hare”

Hot Cross Buns

• Most festivals have special foods

• Many countries have an Easter bread

• British: hot cross buns– Cross may be pre-

Christian– Uses eggs– Spice …

• Many superstitions

Palms & Ashes

• Probably Christian: Palm Sunday– Palm or other branches– Parade – celebrate – Crosses – remember

• Quite a lot of superstition– Luck– Cleansing

Christmas Date

• “Sun God” imported to Rome about 250AD– 17 December– 1 January; 6 January

• No evidence of pre-Christian festival on 25 December

• 25 December: – Solstice: coming of light– Round number fans

Holly, Ivy & Mistletoe

• In winter – what ordinary people

had for decoration– Inside needed

decoration

• Christian gloss– Thorns = suffering– Red berries = blood– Green = life

Fir Trees• German

– Imported by Albert to UK– Only Alsace before 1700

• Original decorations:– Apples & nuts– Candles– Small presents

• At first in UK/US communal not family

• Christian meaning– The cross– Life in death

Lights

• Early records of church services

• Every person had a candle

• Special candles lit up pictures/statues

• Advent wreath (German again)

Father Christmas

• No evidence of pre-Christian “god”

• Saint Nicholas – Fables– Different dates– Mixed up with wise men

• “spirit of Christmas”• US poem … accidental

fame

Presents• New year tradition in some places

(note on Scotland)• Commuted to – Wise Men or – St Nicholas– “family” & generosity– Father Christmas (see

above)

• Christian meaning– Jesus as gift– God as giver– Loving generosity

Nativity Figures

• The story– Telling– Remembering– Imagining

• Pitfalls– Worship of “icons”

SO?• Help• Hinder• Neutral

Tell the story of Jesus.

• True• Confusing• False• Jesus’ story• Different story• Legendary story

Symbolise the truth about Jesus.

• Truth• Confusion• Falsehood• Irrelevant• Meaningless• Celebratory