The Ceremonial Year, Sacred Feasts & Seasons
We are surrounded by a life that is full of cycles: the daily ebb and flow cycles of the tides,
the four seasons of nature, moon cycles, as well as human birth and life transitions. Thus we
are in tune with the cyclical, recurring nature of things. It provides us with a sense of
order and stability.
Throughout the ages, people have marked the cyclical nature of life with special ceremonies
and feasts, and developed calendars to organize it all. The "pagan" Celtic people referred to
theirs as The Wheel Of The Year (see graphic below). Other people had different names,
and not all marked the same occasions as important.
the four seasons of nature, moon cycles, as well as human birth and life transitions. Thus we
are in tune with the cyclical, recurring nature of things. It provides us with a sense of
order and stability.
Throughout the ages, people have marked the cyclical nature of life with special ceremonies
and feasts, and developed calendars to organize it all. The "pagan" Celtic people referred to
theirs as The Wheel Of The Year (see graphic below). Other people had different names,
and not all marked the same occasions as important.
| Of the Catholic Church About the Calendar of Sacred Seasons and Cycles of Life |
People order, organize or arrange the physical space in which they
live, for example; their homes, neighborhoods, and cities.
They also have a tendency and strong urge for ordering time.
live, for example; their homes, neighborhoods, and cities.
They also have a tendency and strong urge for ordering time.
The Church Year: Calendar of the Christian Church
Introduction to the principal holidays and seasons of the Christian year
and what they mean - and where they come from.
The Main Seasons:
Advent Christmas Epiphany Pre-Lent
Lent Easter Pentecost/Trinity - Ordinary
It is important point to remember that the church incorporated many non-christian, or
pre-christian festivals and holidays into its calendar after renaming many of them. More
detail follows further below.
Introduction to the principal holidays and seasons of the Christian year
and what they mean - and where they come from.
The Main Seasons:
Advent Christmas Epiphany Pre-Lent
Lent Easter Pentecost/Trinity - Ordinary
It is important point to remember that the church incorporated many non-christian, or
pre-christian festivals and holidays into its calendar after renaming many of them. More
detail follows further below.
The Ancient Year: Roots of our Christian Calendar
The ancient origin of the many holidays that were incorporated into the
Christian Liturgical calendar.
The "Wheel of the Year" (Celtic)
If you think of the cycle as a clock face, the first Quarter Day, is at 12 'o
clock. The Solstices are when the sun seems to 'stand still' in the sky.
Opposite this at 6 'o'clock is the Summer Solstice (June 20th-23rd) -
the longest day of the year and the point of highest energy.
At 3 'o clock is the Spring Equinox (March 20th-23rd) and,
at 9 'o clock, the Autumn Equinox (Sept 20th-23rd).
This is the Winter Solstice (Dec 20th-23rd), which is also known as the
shortest day and is the darkest point of the year.
The ancient origin of the many holidays that were incorporated into the
Christian Liturgical calendar.
The "Wheel of the Year" (Celtic)
If you think of the cycle as a clock face, the first Quarter Day, is at 12 'o
clock. The Solstices are when the sun seems to 'stand still' in the sky.
Opposite this at 6 'o'clock is the Summer Solstice (June 20th-23rd) -
the longest day of the year and the point of highest energy.
At 3 'o clock is the Spring Equinox (March 20th-23rd) and,
at 9 'o clock, the Autumn Equinox (Sept 20th-23rd).
This is the Winter Solstice (Dec 20th-23rd), which is also known as the
shortest day and is the darkest point of the year.
An equinox is when night and day are of equal length.
These are like the edges of winter and often take a hard toll on our bodies.
In between these 'sky points' are the Cross-quarter days which mark 'gear shifts' in the energy of the earth.
These times are also important agriculturally.
Imbolc (Oimelc) – also known as Candlemas (Beginning of February) is when the first lambs are born and ewe's
milk is available again after the long winter. The year is beginning to stir and wake-up. See Notes below.
Beltane (Beginning of May) is the transition from spring to summer when Nature is pumping with life-force and
fertility.
Lammas (Beginning of August) is the time of ripeness and when the earth starts to give up her harvest.
Samhain (Beginning of November) is the end/beginning of the Celtic year. It is a time when the veil between the
worlds is thinnest and it is possible to commune with the ancestors.
There is great joy in being aware of the seasons in this way and celebrating them in simple ways.
NOTES:
1 - Imbolc means, literally, “in the belly” (of the mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our
mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that was planted in her womb at the
solstice is quickening and the new year grows.
2 - Oimelc means “milk of ewes”, for it is also lambing season.
These are like the edges of winter and often take a hard toll on our bodies.
In between these 'sky points' are the Cross-quarter days which mark 'gear shifts' in the energy of the earth.
These times are also important agriculturally.
Imbolc (Oimelc) – also known as Candlemas (Beginning of February) is when the first lambs are born and ewe's
milk is available again after the long winter. The year is beginning to stir and wake-up. See Notes below.
Beltane (Beginning of May) is the transition from spring to summer when Nature is pumping with life-force and
fertility.
Lammas (Beginning of August) is the time of ripeness and when the earth starts to give up her harvest.
Samhain (Beginning of November) is the end/beginning of the Celtic year. It is a time when the veil between the
worlds is thinnest and it is possible to commune with the ancestors.
There is great joy in being aware of the seasons in this way and celebrating them in simple ways.
NOTES:
1 - Imbolc means, literally, “in the belly” (of the mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our
mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that was planted in her womb at the
solstice is quickening and the new year grows.
2 - Oimelc means “milk of ewes”, for it is also lambing season.
3 - Candlemas - February 2 - Festival of Lights.
Beginning of spring. Although this may seem a tenuous beginning, all the little buds, flowers, and leaves will have
arrived on schedule before spring runs its course to Beltane.
“Candlemas” is the Christianized name for the holiday. The older names were Imbolc and Oimelc (see above).
This holiday is also called “Brigit’s Day”, honoring the great Irish Goddess Brigit. She was considered a Goddess
of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry, and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery).
The Roman Catholic Church (which was the only church at the time) canonized her as ‘Saint’ Brigit, patron saint of
smithcraft, poetry, and healing.
Brigit’s holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she symbolized the fire of birth and
healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of poetic inspiration. Bonfires were lighted on the beacon tors, and
chandlers celebrated their special holiday.
The Church was quick to confiscate this symbolism as well, using “Candlemas” as the day to bless all the church
candles that would be used for the coming liturgical year.
The following day, St. Blaise’s Day, is remembered for using the newly blessed candles to bless the throats of
parishioners, keeping them from colds, flu, sore throats, etc.)
The Church also called it the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Purification has to do with the old custom of “churching women”. It was believed that women were impure for six
weeks after giving birth.
And since Mary gave birth at the winter solstice, she wouldn’t be purified until February 2 (see Lady Day below).
Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Our folk calendar keeps the tradition of “Groundhog
Day”; a day to predict the coming weather, telling us that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be “six
more weeks” of bad weather (i.e., until the next Old Holiday, Lady Day).
This custom is ancient. An old British rhyme tells us that “if Candlemas Day be bright and clear, there’ll be two
winters in the year”.
Actually, all of the cross-quarter days can be used as inverse weather predictors, whereas the quarter days are
used as direct weather predictors.
Beginning of spring. Although this may seem a tenuous beginning, all the little buds, flowers, and leaves will have
arrived on schedule before spring runs its course to Beltane.
“Candlemas” is the Christianized name for the holiday. The older names were Imbolc and Oimelc (see above).
This holiday is also called “Brigit’s Day”, honoring the great Irish Goddess Brigit. She was considered a Goddess
of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry, and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery).
The Roman Catholic Church (which was the only church at the time) canonized her as ‘Saint’ Brigit, patron saint of
smithcraft, poetry, and healing.
Brigit’s holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she symbolized the fire of birth and
healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of poetic inspiration. Bonfires were lighted on the beacon tors, and
chandlers celebrated their special holiday.
The Church was quick to confiscate this symbolism as well, using “Candlemas” as the day to bless all the church
candles that would be used for the coming liturgical year.
The following day, St. Blaise’s Day, is remembered for using the newly blessed candles to bless the throats of
parishioners, keeping them from colds, flu, sore throats, etc.)
The Church also called it the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Purification has to do with the old custom of “churching women”. It was believed that women were impure for six
weeks after giving birth.
And since Mary gave birth at the winter solstice, she wouldn’t be purified until February 2 (see Lady Day below).
Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Our folk calendar keeps the tradition of “Groundhog
Day”; a day to predict the coming weather, telling us that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be “six
more weeks” of bad weather (i.e., until the next Old Holiday, Lady Day).
This custom is ancient. An old British rhyme tells us that “if Candlemas Day be bright and clear, there’ll be two
winters in the year”.
Actually, all of the cross-quarter days can be used as inverse weather predictors, whereas the quarter days are
used as direct weather predictors.
Calendar Confusion
The Christian Church too, marks time. It has a "calendar" it follows that repeats every year.
However, not all holidays (holy-days) fall on the same dates each year, which creates some
confusion. As well, many people find it difficult to relate to some of them because they no longer
see the connection between the calendar, and life around them.
It is not surprising that the rhyme and reason for many of our holidays is difficult to understand
at times. Some festivals, like Christmas Day, for example, happen on the same date every year,
while others move around within a range of dates.
The reason some of the Christian festivals are not on the same date each year because the
Church Calendar grew out of three different Calendars: the ancient calendar of the so-called
pagan Celts, the Jewish calendar, and the Roman.
Like all calendars, the liturgical calendar is also based on recurring seasons in nature: fall, winter,
spring, and summer, marked out by the movement of the sun (solar calendars of 365 days) or the
phases of the moon (lunar calendars, 12 months of 28 days) – this is the way of the ancient Celtic
one.
The calendar of the Christian church makes use of all three kinds. This results in some confusion
as holidays based on the solar calendar like Christmas always occur on the same date each year,
whereas holidays based on the lunar calendar like Easter occur on different dates each year,
reflecting the cycles of the moon.
And "connections" are seemingly lost because the roots have been obscured over time.
Hopefully the added details and historical background information on this page will help make it all
clearer.
The Christian Church too, marks time. It has a "calendar" it follows that repeats every year.
However, not all holidays (holy-days) fall on the same dates each year, which creates some
confusion. As well, many people find it difficult to relate to some of them because they no longer
see the connection between the calendar, and life around them.
It is not surprising that the rhyme and reason for many of our holidays is difficult to understand
at times. Some festivals, like Christmas Day, for example, happen on the same date every year,
while others move around within a range of dates.
The reason some of the Christian festivals are not on the same date each year because the
Church Calendar grew out of three different Calendars: the ancient calendar of the so-called
pagan Celts, the Jewish calendar, and the Roman.
Like all calendars, the liturgical calendar is also based on recurring seasons in nature: fall, winter,
spring, and summer, marked out by the movement of the sun (solar calendars of 365 days) or the
phases of the moon (lunar calendars, 12 months of 28 days) – this is the way of the ancient Celtic
one.
The calendar of the Christian church makes use of all three kinds. This results in some confusion
as holidays based on the solar calendar like Christmas always occur on the same date each year,
whereas holidays based on the lunar calendar like Easter occur on different dates each year,
reflecting the cycles of the moon.
And "connections" are seemingly lost because the roots have been obscured over time.
Hopefully the added details and historical background information on this page will help make it all
clearer.
Lady Day – March 25
In the Catholic Church, there are two holidays that get mixed up with the vernal equinox in the Catholic Calendar.
The first “mix-up”, occurs on the fixed calendar day of March 25 in the old liturgical calendar, is called the Feast
of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin.
Annunciation means an “announcement” - the day that the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was “in
the family way”.
The church picked the vernal equinox for the commemoration of this event because it was necessary to have Mary
conceive the child Jesus a full nine months before his birth at the winter solstice
(That is, Christmas, celebrated on the fixed calendar date of December 25).
Mary’s pregnancy would take the natural nine months to complete, even if the conception was a due to unusual
circumstances.
The second mix-up of the Christian holiday calendar is Easter.
Easter, too, celebrates the victory of a God of light (Jesus) over darkness (death), so it makes sense to place it
at this season.
The name “Easter” was taken from the name of a Teutonic lunar Goddess, Eostre.
Her chief symbols were the bunny (both for fertility and because she was connected to the full moon) and the egg
(symbolic of the Cosmic Egg of Creation), images that Christians have had difficulty in explaining satisfactorily.
Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the vernal equinox full moon.
Since the church doesn’t celebrate full moons, even if they do calculate by them, they planted their Easter on the
following Sunday. Thus, Easter is always the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox.
That’s one reason why Easter moves all around the calendar. The Church will not incorporate lunar symbolism it
has added a further calculation: if Easter Sunday were to fall on the full moon itself, then Easter was postponed
to the following Sunday instead.
In the Catholic Church, there are two holidays that get mixed up with the vernal equinox in the Catholic Calendar.
The first “mix-up”, occurs on the fixed calendar day of March 25 in the old liturgical calendar, is called the Feast
of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin.
Annunciation means an “announcement” - the day that the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was “in
the family way”.
The church picked the vernal equinox for the commemoration of this event because it was necessary to have Mary
conceive the child Jesus a full nine months before his birth at the winter solstice
(That is, Christmas, celebrated on the fixed calendar date of December 25).
Mary’s pregnancy would take the natural nine months to complete, even if the conception was a due to unusual
circumstances.
The second mix-up of the Christian holiday calendar is Easter.
Easter, too, celebrates the victory of a God of light (Jesus) over darkness (death), so it makes sense to place it
at this season.
The name “Easter” was taken from the name of a Teutonic lunar Goddess, Eostre.
Her chief symbols were the bunny (both for fertility and because she was connected to the full moon) and the egg
(symbolic of the Cosmic Egg of Creation), images that Christians have had difficulty in explaining satisfactorily.
Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the vernal equinox full moon.
Since the church doesn’t celebrate full moons, even if they do calculate by them, they planted their Easter on the
following Sunday. Thus, Easter is always the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox.
That’s one reason why Easter moves all around the calendar. The Church will not incorporate lunar symbolism it
has added a further calculation: if Easter Sunday were to fall on the full moon itself, then Easter was postponed
to the following Sunday instead.
The other reason Easter moves around is that it is
also based on the ancient Jewish calendar.
In their distant past, the Jews were a nomadic
(wandering) people. As they often travelled at night,
the moon was of great importance to them, and they
based their calendar on its phases. The first great
Christian festivals sprang from Jewish ones.
The Christian Church grew and expanded under the
Roman Empire which followed a calendar controlled by
the sun. When the church began to introduce festivals
of its very own, and not based on the Jews, they
fixed them on dates already in the Roman Calendar.
And by also including and incorporating Celtic feasts
and festivals, the Christian Calendar is thus a triple
one, with 'fixed' feasts based on the Roman 'solar'
calendar, and 'moveable' ones based on the Jewish
'lunar' calendar, and some adjusted to absorb the
Celtic ones.
also based on the ancient Jewish calendar.
In their distant past, the Jews were a nomadic
(wandering) people. As they often travelled at night,
the moon was of great importance to them, and they
based their calendar on its phases. The first great
Christian festivals sprang from Jewish ones.
The Christian Church grew and expanded under the
Roman Empire which followed a calendar controlled by
the sun. When the church began to introduce festivals
of its very own, and not based on the Jews, they
fixed them on dates already in the Roman Calendar.
And by also including and incorporating Celtic feasts
and festivals, the Christian Calendar is thus a triple
one, with 'fixed' feasts based on the Roman 'solar'
calendar, and 'moveable' ones based on the Jewish
'lunar' calendar, and some adjusted to absorb the
Celtic ones.
The Christian Liturgical Seasons: Their Colour, Purpose and Reason - an Outline
As you can now see, the liturgical calendar was developed over many centuries, appropriating (absorbing)
rituals common to many cultures, to tell the story of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection as the pattern
not only for the life of the Church and its worship, but also the progress of the individual believer toward
union with God.
At one level, the seasons of the Christian year are ordered around the life and work of Jesus,
beginning with Advent and Christmas.
The Christmas season is one of twelve days, ending with Epiphany, which marks the coming of the magi to the
stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
Epiphany extends for a period of 4 to 9 weeks in which the believer follows the major events of Christ's life,
from his baptism which marks the start of his public ministry and ending with Ash Wednesday.
During Lent, Christians follow Christ toward the culminating days of Holy Week and Easter in which Jesus’
confrontation with the "powers and principalities" of this world came to a climax in his death, and then, the
resurrection.
Following Easter, Christians remember the relatively short period during which the risen Christ appeared to
the disciples on earth. According to the creeds, he then "ascended" into heaven; the church was not abandoned
by God, however, but rather was blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost Sunday celebrates that presence in the life of the church and is followed by a season of 24 weeks,
often referred to as "ordinary time," in which both the church and the individual believer focus on the work
they are called to do in the world as the living "body of Christ."
There are other feasts in between, or as part of some of the major ones here. You will find those below.
As you can now see, the liturgical calendar was developed over many centuries, appropriating (absorbing)
rituals common to many cultures, to tell the story of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection as the pattern
not only for the life of the Church and its worship, but also the progress of the individual believer toward
union with God.
At one level, the seasons of the Christian year are ordered around the life and work of Jesus,
beginning with Advent and Christmas.
The Christmas season is one of twelve days, ending with Epiphany, which marks the coming of the magi to the
stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
Epiphany extends for a period of 4 to 9 weeks in which the believer follows the major events of Christ's life,
from his baptism which marks the start of his public ministry and ending with Ash Wednesday.
During Lent, Christians follow Christ toward the culminating days of Holy Week and Easter in which Jesus’
confrontation with the "powers and principalities" of this world came to a climax in his death, and then, the
resurrection.
Following Easter, Christians remember the relatively short period during which the risen Christ appeared to
the disciples on earth. According to the creeds, he then "ascended" into heaven; the church was not abandoned
by God, however, but rather was blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost Sunday celebrates that presence in the life of the church and is followed by a season of 24 weeks,
often referred to as "ordinary time," in which both the church and the individual believer focus on the work
they are called to do in the world as the living "body of Christ."
There are other feasts in between, or as part of some of the major ones here. You will find those below.
Liturgical Colors
Liturgies celebrated during the different seasons of the liturgical year have distinctive music and specific
readings, prayers, and rituals. All of these work together to reflect the spirit of the particular season. The
colors of the vestments that the priest wears during the liturgy also help express the character of the
mysteries being celebrated.
Liturgies celebrated during the different seasons of the liturgical year have distinctive music and specific
readings, prayers, and rituals. All of these work together to reflect the spirit of the particular season. The
colors of the vestments that the priest wears during the liturgy also help express the character of the
mysteries being celebrated.
White, the color of joy and victory, is used for the seasons of Easter and Christmas. It is also used for the
feasts of Our Lord, for feasts of Mary, the angels, and for saints who are not martyrs. Gold may also be
used on solemn occasions.
White is now normally also used at funerals, instead of the Black from former times.
feasts of Our Lord, for feasts of Mary, the angels, and for saints who are not martyrs. Gold may also be
used on solemn occasions.
White is now normally also used at funerals, instead of the Black from former times.
Red (the color of blood) is used on days when we celebrate the passion of Jesus on Passion Sunday and Good
Friday (some use Black on Good Friday). It is also used for the birthday feasts of the apostles and
evangelists and for the celebrations of martyrs. Red (also the color of fire) recalls the Holy Spirit and is
used on Pentecost and for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Friday (some use Black on Good Friday). It is also used for the birthday feasts of the apostles and
evangelists and for the celebrations of martyrs. Red (also the color of fire) recalls the Holy Spirit and is
used on Pentecost and for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Green, seen everywhere in plants and trees, symbolizes
life and hope and is used during Ordinary Time.
life and hope and is used during Ordinary Time.
At another level the cycle of the Church year is understood, not just as a rehearsal of events that happened
in the distant past, but as a reflection of those universal themes and patterns that are part of the structure
of reality itself. As one follows the trajectory of the Christian year, one is also following the trajectory of the
cosmos itself, as it moves from the moment of creation to its final consummation. In this we are all on a
journey, an often painful one that leads through many joys and sorrows and many seasons of the heart toward
that final moment when we return to the Source.
And finally, it is often over-looked that we celebrate anniversaries of those historical events - not the events
themselves
in the distant past, but as a reflection of those universal themes and patterns that are part of the structure
of reality itself. As one follows the trajectory of the Christian year, one is also following the trajectory of the
cosmos itself, as it moves from the moment of creation to its final consummation. In this we are all on a
journey, an often painful one that leads through many joys and sorrows and many seasons of the heart toward
that final moment when we return to the Source.
And finally, it is often over-looked that we celebrate anniversaries of those historical events - not the events
themselves
The colors violet or purple in Advent help us to remember that we are preparing for the coming of Christ. Lent,
the season of penance and renewal also uses the colors violet or purple (blue is often used in many places
instead of either of these colours.
the season of penance and renewal also uses the colors violet or purple (blue is often used in many places
instead of either of these colours.
Rose may be used on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, and on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare
Sunday. It expresses the joy of anticipation for Christmas and Easter, respectively.
Sunday. It expresses the joy of anticipation for Christmas and Easter, respectively.
Fr. Klaas Tuinman MA - Yarmouth County - Nova Scotia - Canada - 2010
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