Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

12
this is one in a series o f presentations for Infor mation Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained Valuing the Richness that Diversity Brings

description

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained. Valuing the Richness that Diversity Brings. Aims of the presentation. To provide information, advice and guidance around Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule for PCT employees. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

Page 1: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

Valuing the Richness that Diversity Brings

Page 2: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Aims of the presentation• To provide information, advice and

guidance around Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule for PCT employees.

• Based on the organisations values and principles of valuing the richness that diversity brings.

• We believe it is important that employees of the PCT understand the religious and cultural traditions of the people we serve and of those we work with in line with Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 and the Equality Act 2006.

Page 3: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

What is Advent?• Advent originates from the Latin

word meaning coming.• It is the beginning of the

Christian church year and commences on the nearest Sunday to St Andrew’s Day.

• Advent commences on Sunday 2nd December in 2007.

• It is a time which enables people to prepare for Christmas.

• Advent ends with Christmas.

Page 4: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

What Happens During Advent?• In many Churches during the advent weeks

scriptures are read concentrating on the events leading up to the birth of Christ.

• Many households have ‘Advent Calendars’ or Advent candles which are symbols of the counting down to the festival of Christmas.

• Candles are lit during advent as reminders to Christians of; – Hope– Jesus being the Light of the World– God’s ‘Peace’ – Love– Joy– The birth of Jesus

Page 5: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

What Happens During Advent?• Christian Clergy & Priests usually

wear purple or blue vestments in their churches during Advent.

• During Advent churches are not decorated with flowers, but it is customary to have an Advent Crown or Advent Wreath.

• Advent Wreaths are made from circles of holly and ivy – this symbolizes God with no beginning or end. Holly is also a symbol of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore during the crucifixion.

Page 6: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Christmas• To Christians Christmas is the time

when Jesus was born.

• Christmas services vary between Christian denomination some have midnight mass and some hold communion services late on the night of Christmas Eve.

• Many have Carol services where Carols are sung, these are songs which tell of Christmas and winter time e.g. O’ Little Town of Bethlehem, The holly and the ivy etc.

Page 7: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Christmas Customs • Many of the customs

carried out such as giving of presents, feasting, Christmas Trees and the Yule log, have nothing to do with Christianity.

• Some such as the Yule log and the Christmas Tree are symbols of the pagan midwinter festival held in late December to early January.

Page 8: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Symbols Associated with Christmas • Presents: comes from the stories of the 3 wise

men (Magi) who gave presents to the infant Jesus. Presents are a symbol of love and caring.

• Holly, Mistletoe and Ivy: Evergreen foliage used to decorate the home, taken from the pagan midwinter festival welcoming and encouraging the return of the sun.

• Decorations: The addition of an angle or star to the Christmas tree is a Christian symbol.

• Christmas Cards: started in 1843 by John Horsley, these are often have a range of designs from nativity scenes to those of father Christmas.

• Christmas Pudding: various recipes have been around since the middle ages, the modern version was introduced in the Victorian times.

Page 9: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Boxing Day• Also known as St Stephen’s Day or

the Feast of St Stephen (mentioned in the Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’)

• It is not certain where Boxing Day came from;– some believe it is derived from the times

when priests would open the alms boxes in churches after Christmas.

– Another suggests it began when employers and wealthy people gave their employees, servants and trades people Christmas Boxes as a way of saying thank you.

Page 10: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Epiphany• January 6th coming twelve days after

Christmas.

• Epiphany is derived from the Greek word meaning to show or reveal, when Christ was revealed to non-Jews.

• This time also celebrates the arrival of the Magi (Three Wise Men) who visited Jesus. As the Magi were non-Jews, Christians see their visit as a sign that Christ's message is for all nations.

Page 11: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

Yule• It is a winter festival which has been celebrated

in Northern Europe since ancient times. In pre-Christian times, Germanic Pagans celebrated Yule in late December or early January on a date determined by a lunar calendar.

• During the process of Christianization Yule was placed on December 25, in order to correspond with the Christian celebrations known as Christmas.

• Thus, the terms "Yule" and "Christmas" are often used interchangeably.

• Yule is an important festival for Pagans including Wiccans and various secular groups who observe the holiday at the winter solstice on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere.

Page 12: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Yule Explained

this is one in a series of presentations for Information

It is hoped that this information will help colleagues to gain more understanding of what Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and

Yule means to our Colleagues who are of the Christian and Pagan faiths.

Jules WallDiversity and Equality Manager

Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Primary Care Trust