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