Search results for: “easter”

Good Friday is both a time of sadness and a time of thankfulness. Sadness as Christians remember the suffering that Jesus endured but thankfulness as they think about how he suffered and died as a sign of God’s love for all people. Some Christians will fast on Good Friday. This could mean missing one or more meals or avoiding some kinds of foods. This helps them remember the sacrifice Jesus made for them on the day of crucifixion.

Many churches will hold a special service on Good Friday. This may be a communion service in the evening or a time of prayer during the day, especially around 3 o’clock as that is about the time of day when Jesus died.

Some people will join processions around towns where the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross is acted out or read. In some churches, pictures and statues are covered over and there will be no flowers or any other decoration. The priest will wear black. It is seen as a time of mourning.

In many towns and cities, there will be three crosses put on a high point on the outskirts, as a reminder of Jesus’ crucifixion between two criminals.

Watch these videos to find out a bit more about this very special time for Christians.

Shrove Tuesday is actually the day before Lent begins, the day before Ash Wednesday. It is a day of preparation for Lent. Today it is often known as Pancake Day. Shrove comes from the old word ‘shrive’, which means to confess the things you have done wrong. Many people used to go to church to do this on the day before Lent began.

Why are pancakes eaten on Shrove Tuesday?

It was once the custom to have a special kind of fast during Lent. This meant that people would not eat any fat, meat or eggs and only eat plain foods. The Tuesday before became a day of celebration when pancakes were made and eaten to make sure that all the fat and eggs that were in the house were eaten up before Lent began.

Pancakes are still eaten in many homes on Shrove Tuesday and it is usually a time of happiness and fun. However, very few people stop eating fat, meat and eggs during Lent these days. Some Christians will fast by not eating certain foods or by fasting for once a day each week.

Try making your own pancakes. For the pancake mixture you need:

• 110g
  plain flour, sifted
• pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 200ml
  milk mixed with 75ml water
• 50g
  butter

Watch this video to find out more about how to make pancakes.

Lent: 40 days of fasting, saying sorry and preparing to celebrate one of the biggest Christian festivals of the year – Easter. At least, this is how Christians have spent Lent over hundreds of years.

But these days, many people are living Lent a little differently…

‘Stewardship’ is a Christian organisation that aims to encourage Christians and non-Christians alike to be generous during the period of Lent.

For some years now, they have run the ’40 Acts of Lent’ campaign. Rather than give something up for Lent – chocolate, coffee, TV, etc – people are encouraged to use the period of Lent to give something back. They spend the time being thankful for what they have and then sharing some of that with others.

Stewardship uses social media and emails to set a daily challenge throughout Lent. People are then encouraged to share their pictures and stories via social media as a way of encouraging others.

Visit the 40 Acts site to see what happens when people choose to make a habit of being generous, or search Twitter using the hashtag #40acts.