Christmas and Easter

The accounts of Jesus’ birth, known as the Nativity, appear in Matthew and Luke. They describe his birth in Bethlehem: Luke includes Mary laying Jesus in a manger and the visit of shepherds, while Matthew includes the visit of wise men. Christians differ in how literally they understand some details, but the central religious meaning is the incarnation: God became human in Jesus.

The humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth matter because Christians believe that God entered ordinary human life rather than appearing simply as a powerful earthly ruler. Christmas therefore expresses both God’s love for humanity and the importance of humility.

Christians connect Jesus’ birth with biblical hopes for a saviour. Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a child who will be called the ‘Prince of Peace’. For Christians, this helps explain why Christmas is associated with hope, peace and reconciliation, not just the arrival of a baby.

Preparing for and celebrating Christmas

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It is a time of preparation: Christians reflect on the coming of Jesus and prepare to celebrate his birth. In many churches, a candle is lit on each of the four Sundays, marking the approach of Christmas.

Christmas worship often includes carols, prayers, sermons and readings of the birth accounts. Nativity plays make the story accessible, especially to children, while religious Christmas cards can share its message beyond the church. Some churches also hold Christingle services.

Many Catholics and Anglicans attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, welcoming Christmas Day through worship that includes Holy Communion. Other congregations hold Christmas morning services. These gatherings allow Christians to thank God for the gift of Jesus and celebrate with their religious community. Practices differ between churches, but remembering Jesus’ birth is their shared purpose.

Why Christmas matters in Great Britain today

Christmas can influence Christians’ actions as well as their worship. Giving presents can express generosity and recall God’s gift of Jesus. Family meals and gatherings can strengthen relationships, while the festival’s message of peace can encourage people to seek reconciliation.

This concern extends beyond family and friends. Churches may host meals, provide shelter or distribute gifts to people who are poor, homeless or lonely. Such actions make the Christmas message of love practical: celebrating God’s care for humanity becomes a reason to care for others.

The public visibility of Christmas also gives Christians an opportunity to share their faith. Amid shopping, parties and presents, church services, carols and Nativity performances keep attention on the festival’s religious meaning.

Easter: from suffering to new life

Easter centres on the belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion. Christians understand his death as a sacrifice through which humanity can receive forgiveness and be reconciled with God. His resurrection gives hope that death is not the end and that eternal life is possible.

Many Christians therefore regard Easter as the most important Christian festival. Paul writes: ‘And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith’ (1 Corinthians 15:14). This expresses how central the resurrection is: for Christians, it is not merely a happy ending to Jesus’ story, but a foundation of their faith.

Preparation takes place during Lent, which recalls Jesus’ forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness. Christians may pray, reflect on their sins and fast or give up something they enjoy. These practices help them turn towards God before celebrating Easter.

Holy Week: remembering the events through worship

Holy Week takes Christians through the events leading to Easter, moving from celebration to sorrow and then joy.

• Palm Sunday remembers Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Churches may distribute palm branches or palm crosses, recalling the welcome he received.
• Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper. Many churches hold Holy Communion, and some include foot-washing to recall Jesus serving his disciples. His command, ‘love one another’ (John 13:34), connects this worship with a duty to serve others.
• Good Friday remembers Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Reflective services, and sometimes fasting, express sorrow and gratitude for his sacrifice. Christians remember both his human suffering and his obedience to God.
• Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. Joyful hymns, flowers and shared worship express the movement from grief to hope.

Some Catholics and Anglicans attend an Easter vigil on Saturday night. It begins in darkness, and a large Paschal candle is lit to symbolise the risen Christ as the Light of the World. Holy Communion forms part of the celebration. In Orthodox celebrations, worshippers may enter a darkened church carrying candles or lamps, and the priest announces, ‘Christ is risen!’ These different traditions express the same central belief in the resurrection.

Why Easter matters in Great Britain today

Easter services bring Christians together to renew their faith in salvation and eternal life. Remembering Jesus’ suffering may encourage perseverance during difficulties; celebrating his resurrection gives hope in the face of death and bereavement. Reflecting on forgiveness and reconciliation can also encourage Christians to forgive others and repair damaged relationships.

Family meals, cards and chocolate eggs are familiar parts of Easter in Britain. For Christians, eggs can symbolise new life, connecting a popular custom with resurrection. However, the religious importance of Easter lies in what Christians believe God has done through Jesus, rather than in the gifts themselves.

Christmas and Easter are therefore closely connected. Christmas celebrates God becoming human; Easter remembers the saving significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. A Christian may give particular priority to Easter while still seeing Christmas as essential to the story of God’s love.