Christian Holy Days/Holidays (Lutheran)

[GraceSeeker]

My apologies for asking this question in mutliple places on the board, but I am curious if the answer might vary based on denominational differences.


What do you consider to be the MAJOR Christian holidays? Briefly describe how you celebrate each one.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

-Christmas/Christmas Eve, we go to church (usually 2-4 times at anywhere from 1-3 different churches), we spend time with family. The traditions with family varies from my and my wife's side. We also decorate our house and do the presents thing.
-Ash Wed. We go to church, usually have a meal at service with the ashes rubbed on the forehead. Sometimes I'll sing some ridiculous made-up Alleluia song the day before to bid it farewell for Lent.
-Holy Week: Lotta church. Love the special services for Holy Week. The procession of the palms, the reading of the passion, one of my old churches did the seven last words of Jesus, foot washings, then
-Easter Sunday: We have not been able to get by family much in recent years. Church really is the big thing for us, but even moreso since they become our Easter Community. When we do see family I love going to Easter at my Alma Mater, best Easter service around. One year we also celebrated Easter with the Orthodox, very festive! Christos Anesti! I've also given gifts on this day.
-Ascension Day: in my wife's background (reformed tradition) this is a bigger deal. I've never been part of a church that celebrates it on the day but defaults it to the following Sunday. But in her home church they have service on the Thurs and it is as full as any Sunday.
-Pentecost: I was confirmed on this Sunday. We always try to wear red. I have a "Holy Spirit pin" (dove surrounded by red flame) that I try to break out for the day. I have been at multiple churches that have the lesson read in several languages on that day to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit when the disciples began preaching in tongues (we always have it in English though).
-All Saints Day: Home of one of my fav. hymns: For All the Saints. It reminds me of what all funerals should be like: it possesses this slight somber remembrance of the deceased but is ultimately a festival of the joy of God's grace for his people, the communion of Saints. It's the best context for me to remember those who I've lost.

 

[Aibrean]

Of course we also celebrate Reformation Day in excess

 

[GraceSeeker]

Thank-you for your responses. Would other Lutherans care to add or substract in terms of those Christian holidays that they consider MAJOR?

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

Liturgically speaking these are the "Principle Festivals and Observances" of the ELCA:
Nativity of our Lord (Christmas), Epiphany of Our Lord, Ash Wed, Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, Resurrection, Sundays of Easter, Ascension of Our Lord, Pentecost, and Holy Trinity.

 

[Kalevalatar]

In Finland, the most important Church (and national) holidays are Christmas (Dec 25), Easter, and Pentecost.

Other important national holidays connected to the Lutheran Church year (and celebrated with a Mass) are the first Advent Sunday (we light one candle, one more candle is added every coming Advent Sunday, "Favourite Christmas Carols" sing-along events), Christmas Eve (trad. Christmas dinner & presents; all shops et al close/stop at noon, schools are on break between Christmas and New Year/Epiphany) and Boxing Day, New Year's Day (celebrated with a Mass), Epiphany, Holy Week (evening services, concerts, passions), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (no Mass, a solemn Service of the Word), Holy Saturday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Saint John's/Midsummer, Michaelmas (trad. pecial children's/family services), All Saints' Day (visiting the graves and lighting candles).

 

[bach90]

I can't wait to celebrate my first Reformation Day this year!

Naturally I hold Easter to be the most important, in a way though I find Good Friday to be a day of deep spiritual reflection, that the Lord Jesus suffered death so that I may have life. I also use the time to listen to the fifth evangelist (J.S Bach) and the mystery transmitted through his St. Matthew Passion.

I used to be big on All Souls Day when I was a Roman. Now I'll put emphasis on All Saints Day!

 

[Lost Squirrel]

Liturgically speaking these are the "Principle Festivals and Observances" of the ELCA:
Nativity of our Lord (Christmas), Epiphany of Our Lord, Ash Wed, Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, Resurrection, Sundays of Easter, Ascension of Our Lord, Pentecost, and Holy Trinity.

Whooohooo! I still feel "at home"! lol!
I was wondering the same. You can read all you want about a particular denomination, but to understand to what extent each is really "celebrated" is a whole 'nother thing.