May 19*: Pentecost

Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter, which means it’s May 19 in 2013 in Western Christianity (Eastern churches celebrate Easter and Pentecost on different dates). It commemorates the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, when there were tongues of fire on their heads, and they were speaking in strange tongues with their mouths.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Acts 2:1-4

Although Pentecost is typically thought of as a Christian holiday, it’s actually older than that. Pentecost was the Greek term for the Jewish celebration Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, held 50 days after Passover. However, the Jewish Pentecost is on Saturday, while Christians celebrate it on Sunday.

The Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 was the first Pentecost after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. When the apostles began to speak in tongues, the people were flabbergasted, and some decided that they must be drunk. Then Peter stood up and gave what is often called the first gospel sermon:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:38-39

March 25: Waffle Day

At first glance, Waffle Day may seem to be just another silly food holiday, but this March 25 celebration actually has some funny roots. The holiday originated in Sweden, due to a strong similarity in pronunciation between the words Vårfrudagen (Our Lady’s Day) and Våffeldagen (Waffle Day).

For centuries, much of western Christianity has celebrated March 25* (nine months before Christmas) as the Feast of the Annunciation (in other words, the announcement from the angel Gabriel to Mary that she was to have a child, the son of God). It’s often referred to as Lady Day, Our Lady’s Day, or, in Sweden, Vårfrudagen.

Since Our Lady’s Day and Waffle Day sound so similar in Swedish, people took to celebrating Our Lady’s Day with waffles! In addition, March 25 is very close to the vernal equinox,  so the day has also become a bit of a de facto celebration of spring.

It seems that other countries (especially the U.S.) heard the words “Waffle Day” and immediately responded “Ooh! I like waffles!” Sounds good to me!

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:31-33

*Correction: It is always celebrated on March 25, unless that happens to be a Sunday and unless that happens to fall during Holy Week. In 2013, March 25 is the Monday of Holy Week (Easter is this coming Sunday), so most groups move the Feast of Annunciation all the way to April 8, the day after Divine Mercy Sunday. Whether or not that moves Waffle Day is up for debate, but the general consensus is no.

Two more things:
1) In 2013, March 25 is also the first day of Passover.
2) March 25 is also Tolkien Reading Day, and the day that Sauron fell. I blogged last year about this holiday for one of my favorite authors here.

February 13*: Ash Wednesday

*The date of Ash Wednesday is based off of the date of Easter, so it changes every year. In 2013, it’s happening on February 13, right before Valentine’s Day!

Lent is a time of fasting and prayer, remembering the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. As you probably all know, Lent starts today on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter (March 31, this year). There are dozens of traditions about Lent, but most involve giving something up for the entire season of Lent, and using the time, money, and energy that would have been spent on it to pray and help others.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 1:15

 

February 11: World Day of the Sick

In 1993, Pope John Paul II set aside February 11 as a special day of prayer for suffering, both your own and others. This World Day of the Sick has become a day to recognize the struggles of those with long term illnesses as well as to honor health care workers of all types.

I may not be Catholic, but this is a topic close to my heart. This year’s papal message for World Day of the Sick quotes another papal address from 1965. Speaking to those suffering throughout the world, the address says in part:

“Know that you are not alone, separated, abandoned or useless. You have been called by Christ and are His living and transparent image.”

This year’s message continues with the parable of the Good Samaritan, who went out of his way, putting himself at great risk, to help someone he was supposed to dislike. The story finishes with the following exchange:

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:36-37

January 1: World Day of Peace

Since 1967, the Catholic church has celebrated January 1 as the World Day of Peace. I may not be Catholic, but I think that peace is a great thing to focus on as we begin the new year.

Of course, if you really want my two cents (and if you don’t, why are you reading this?!), I think there’s very little I, personally, can do to promote “world peace,” i.e., peace between nations, ethnic groups, etc. On the other hand, I can move mountains for peace within my family, among my friends, and with all those I come in contact with throughout my day. On this first day of 2013, may our lives be a blessing to all those around us.

“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

November 1: All Saints Day

In much of the world, November 1 is All Saints Day, or All Hallows.

For Roman Catholics, this is a “holy day of obligation” celebrating all those who are in heaven. (Eastern Christianity celebrates its own All Saints Day in the spring, after Pentecost.)

For Protestants, the word “saint” typically refers to any Christian, so the church universal (now and throughout time) is celebrated.

In addition, many cultures use this day to also celebrate the dead, especially those who passed away in the last year. This is done by special readings and ceremonies, family get-togethers, as well as visiting, cleaning, and leaving flowers at family graves. Nowhere is this so evident as in Mexico, where it’s also the first day of the Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.”

Psalm 116:15

World Communion Sunday

On the first Sunday in October, congregations around the globe participate in an event known as World Communion Sunday. The celebration was begun in 1936 by a Presbyterian church in Pittsburgh, but has since spread throughout the world and across many denominations (check here for more info).

On World Communion Sunday, these churches recognize the vastness of the church across the miles (and the years). It should be quite humbling to realize that people throughout the world are doing the same things, just as Christians have for centuries. They meet together to worship, to sing, to pray, to learn about God, to break the bread, and to drink the cup. The song styles may change, the clothing may look drastically different, and the languages may be incomprehensible to me or you, but God is glorified.

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’”

Revelation 7:9-10

April 8*: Easter

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay.”

Matthew 28:6

This site in Jerusalem is known as the Garden Tomb, and is one of several places traditionally considered to be the place where Jesus was buried.

Worshipers inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has been considered the site of the empty tomb since at least the 4th century.

I just found one of my favorite Easter songs ever on youtube. You can listen Glad’s “Easter Song” here (honestly, just listen, don’t watch). Happy Easter!

April 7*: Passover

*Before anything else, here’s the deal about the dates. In 2012, Passover began at sundown on April 6. Since Passover is based on the Hebrew lunar calendar, it’s date is different each year (and since Easter, Lent, Pentecost, and others are based off of it, they are all different each year).
*Also, in the Hebrew calendar, the day is over and the next day begins at sunset, which is why Passover always begins at sunset.
*One more also, Passover / The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts for either 7 or 8 days, depending on who you are. Alright . . . moving on.

Passover was one of the most important celebrations for the ancient Israelites (if not the most). Consequently, it still is one of the most important weeks of the year for modern Jews and some Christians. Passover commemorates the day that God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. What Christians now celebrate as Communion or the Lord’s Supper was begun when Jesus and his disciples were celebrating Passover in the upper room.

The book of Exodus provides many instructions for celebrating Passover, but the whole celebration centers around a share meal and a shared story. Many books are available with information on how to hold your own Seder meal and the traditions that are enjoyed at it (go here for info on the traditional foods of a Seder). The point is to remember and remind each other that our God is a saving God, full of power.

“Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.”

“On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Exodus 13:3, 8-9

April 6*: Good Friday

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

 

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

 

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

 

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

 

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

 

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

 

Matthew 27:45-54 (NIV)