There are six distinct periods of Christian observances. Each focuses upon a different aspect of the Christian experience and tradition. These periods or seasons do not necessarily occur on the same dates from year to year, but are related to the dates of the two principal Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter.
The Current Season - Lent
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas.
The Christmas Season includes the twelve days from sunset Christmas Eve (December 24) through Epiphany (January 6). Christmas is not just one day, but a season of twelve days from sunset Christmas Eve (December 24) through Epiphany (January 6, 2017). The twelfth day of Christmas, Epiphany, commemorates the visiting of the Christ Child by the Magi (Wise Men) with their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Gift giving in some cultures extends throughout the 12 days of Christmas; elsewhere, gift giving is limited to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or January 5 or 6.
The Season After Epiphany begins January 7 and lasts until Ash Wednesday (March 1, 2017)
Lent is the 40 day period before Easter (excluding Sundays) and begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter. During Lent, we enter into a season of preparation, self-reflection and repentance when we seek to literally “turn around” and realign our lives and focus toward God. It is a time to give up things as well as take on new life-giving practices, helping us rid ourselves of distractions and our own selfish desires. By doing so, we seek to live and love as more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21 (April 16, 2017). Because the date for Easter moves between March 22 and April 25, the length of the Season After Epiphany and the Season After Pentecost varies. The Easter Season is fifty days long and goes through the Day of Pentecost. The Easter Season is very important in the Christian calendar because it celebrates on the one hand the risen Christ with his appearances and teachings and on the other hand the beginnings of the Christian church. Historically, the term Pentecost was used to refer not only to the last day in the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, but also to the entire period as well. Now the practice is to reserve the term for Pentecost Sunday (June 4, 2017) and to refer to the fifty-day period as the Easter Season.
Pentecost is one of the principal days of the Christian year, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter (May 15, 2016). The Greek word pentecoste means "fiftieth day." Pentecost is the day on which the Christian church commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and others assembled in Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of the Christian church and the proclamation of its message throughout the world and is often referred to as the birthday of the church. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. Traditionally, Pentecost has been a day for baptisms. Because it was the custom in the early church for persons being baptized to wear white robes or clothing, the day also became known as Whitsunday, a contraction of white Sunday.
The Season After Pentecost begins immediately after Pentecost Sunday and continues until the beginning of Advent. This season is known as Ordinary Time.
The Christmas Season includes the twelve days from sunset Christmas Eve (December 24) through Epiphany (January 6). Christmas is not just one day, but a season of twelve days from sunset Christmas Eve (December 24) through Epiphany (January 6, 2017). The twelfth day of Christmas, Epiphany, commemorates the visiting of the Christ Child by the Magi (Wise Men) with their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Gift giving in some cultures extends throughout the 12 days of Christmas; elsewhere, gift giving is limited to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or January 5 or 6.
The Season After Epiphany begins January 7 and lasts until Ash Wednesday (March 1, 2017)
Lent is the 40 day period before Easter (excluding Sundays) and begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter. During Lent, we enter into a season of preparation, self-reflection and repentance when we seek to literally “turn around” and realign our lives and focus toward God. It is a time to give up things as well as take on new life-giving practices, helping us rid ourselves of distractions and our own selfish desires. By doing so, we seek to live and love as more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21 (April 16, 2017). Because the date for Easter moves between March 22 and April 25, the length of the Season After Epiphany and the Season After Pentecost varies. The Easter Season is fifty days long and goes through the Day of Pentecost. The Easter Season is very important in the Christian calendar because it celebrates on the one hand the risen Christ with his appearances and teachings and on the other hand the beginnings of the Christian church. Historically, the term Pentecost was used to refer not only to the last day in the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, but also to the entire period as well. Now the practice is to reserve the term for Pentecost Sunday (June 4, 2017) and to refer to the fifty-day period as the Easter Season.
Pentecost is one of the principal days of the Christian year, celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter (May 15, 2016). The Greek word pentecoste means "fiftieth day." Pentecost is the day on which the Christian church commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and others assembled in Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of the Christian church and the proclamation of its message throughout the world and is often referred to as the birthday of the church. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. Traditionally, Pentecost has been a day for baptisms. Because it was the custom in the early church for persons being baptized to wear white robes or clothing, the day also became known as Whitsunday, a contraction of white Sunday.
The Season After Pentecost begins immediately after Pentecost Sunday and continues until the beginning of Advent. This season is known as Ordinary Time.