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April |
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April |
Palm Sunday Palm Sunday marks the return of Jesus to Jerusalem. Today Christians go to church and receive small palm crosses. The church service may end with a procession from the church led by a donkey carrying a small child. Maundy Thursday ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word mandatum which means ‘order’. It reminds us of a new commandment given to the disciples – “Love one another”. Today the Queen gives out Maundy money. This replaces the old tradition of the monarch washing beggars’ feet. Each old person chosen to receive the money is given two purses - a white one containing the special Maundy money and a red one containing ordinary coins. The purses are given to a number of people according to the Queen’s age. This year the Queen will be 77 years old, and therefore will give 77 men and 77 women 77 coins each. The coins in the white purse are exact replicas of those used in the days of King Charles I, while the total value of the coins in the red purse has been fixed at £5. Good Friday Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Christian calendar when Christians remember the death of Jesus. Special services are held in churches. This day used to be called ‘Black Friday’. The most popular food associated with Good Friday is the hot cross bun. The cross on the top of the bun reminds us of Jesus’s crucifixion. Easter Day All churches hold special services on Easter Day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Traditionally we eat chocolate eggs – the egg symbolises rebirth and new life. St George’s Day St George is the patron saint of England. He was born in Cappadocia to noble Christian parents, and held an important post in the Roman army. When George complained to the Emperor Diocletian about the latter’s persecution of Christians, he was thrown into prison and tortured. He refused to renounce his Christian faith and was dragged through the streets and beheaded. The Emperor’s wife Alexandria was so impressed by George that she too became a Christian and was also put to death ! According to legend, George killed a dragon that was terrorising a town in Libya and rescued a princess who was to be thrown to the dragon. England’s flag is the cross of St George.
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