About this time of the year, there are lots of religious terms used by some, which most folks do not understand. These terms are not found in the Bible but, it is helpful if we understand what they mean so that we can communicate with our religious neighbors who use these terms and maybe practice these rituals. The Roman Catholic Church gave the world these terms but, many Protestant churches also celebrate, honor, or practice them. They are listed here in the order in which they occur according to the calendar. Remember, none of these come from the Bible.
“Fat Tuesday” (In French it is called “Mardi Gras”): In the Catholic religion there are several “holidays” related to Easter. Several of these days are very solemn days for those who believe in and practice them. The celebration of “Lent” begins the day after “Fat Tuesday” with a celebration called “Ash Wednesday.” The Tuesday before “Ash Wednesday” was a solemn day of preparation for the coming days.
Over time, however, the solemn nature of the day was joined with (and later gave way to) one last feast before the Lenten fast. In centuries past, the Lenten fast was far more rigorous than it is today, and Christians were required to abstain from all meat and food that came from animals, such as milk, cheese, butter, eggs, and animal fats. Therefore, on Tuesday before all this started, people began having a big feast because of what they were going to have to give up for the next 40 days.
Ash Wednesday: This is the first day of the 40-day “Lent” season and the seventh Wednesday before Easter. During Ash Wednesday mass or services, a minister distributes ashes by lightly rubbing the shape of a cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. These ashes have been sprinkled with “holy water” and incense. The tradition of tracing a cross on the forehead is meant to identify the faithful with Jesus Christ. Ashes symbolize death and a reminder that God made Adam out of dust and that all there is, will eventual go back to dust. The ashes are supposed to come from the burned palm leaves which were used the year before on “Palm Sunday.”
Lent: This is a period of 40 days beginning with “Ash Wednesday.” There are 40 days of “Lent” because there were a number of people in the Bible who spent 40 days during a special preparation, especially Jesus’ 40 days of fasting before He began His public ministry. When the Catholic Church first introduced this religious practice, they enforced strict sacrifices that had to be given up. Some of these are listed above. In our day, it is only customary for one to give up something of his or her choosing. It may be giving up eating chocolate or some other food for those 40 days. It is supposed to teach self-discipline.
Palm Sunday: This is the Sunday before Easter and celebrates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem before He was crucified on Friday. Garments and palm leaves were spread on the road over which Jesus’ donkey walked. The people shouted “Hosanna” which means “Praise Jehovah.” Palm branches “were then regarded as an emblem of victory, and the carrying and waving of its branches was emblematic of success and in honor of royalty” (Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature under the topic “Palm Sunday”). Churches who celebrate “Palm Sunday,” usually have a procession of people who come into the building waving palm leaves or other leaves if palm leaves are not available.
Maundy Thursday: This is the Thursday before Easter and is to remember Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and the institution of the Lord’s Supper. “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum which means “commandment.” This day goes by several names, one of which is “Holy Thursday.” Different denominations celebrate this event in several ways. The focus is on the greater person serving the lesser person, which Jesus did by washing the disciples’ feet.
Good Friday: This is the Friday before Easter. This is the day on which Christ died. It is “Good Friday” because of what was accomplished on that day. Various denominations celebrate that day in many different ways. “Mass” in the Catholic Church is the serving of what the Bible calls “The Lord’s Supper.” Interestingly, they can observe “Mass” many times a day and on every day of the year except on Good Friday.
Easter: In the “Christian” religious world this is the most important religious holiday, even more important than Christmas. This is the day that denominational churches honor Christ’s resurrection. The word “Easter” only appears in the King James Version of the Bible and that is found in Acts 12:4. It is an unfortunate translation. The Greek word is “Passover” and that is the way that word is translated in all other places it appears in the KJV. The word “Easter” comes from a Saxon origin. Easter was a goddess of the Saxons whom they honored each spring by offering sacrifices to her. Because that pagan celebration occurred at the same time as the time of the year Christ was resurrected, those who were departing from the biblical pattern incorporated that pagan feast into their “Christian” practice and soon the time of the year when Christ was resurrected came to be called “Easter.” This began about 200 A.D. and was made “official” at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
The resurrection of Christ is an important event, but the Bible does not teach that we are to honor a particular Sunday as “The Resurrection Sunday.” We honor the resurrection of Christ by being immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Conclusion
As stated above, none of these terms and practices are found in the Bible. They are man-made traditions which have come to be bound on people. In the Old Testament, God did authorize and expect His people to practice some holidays, but not so in the Christian age. Speaking about religious holidays which some were trying to bind on Christians, the Bible says, “Therefore no one is to act as your judge (bind on you) in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day – things which are a mere shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). “You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain” (Galatians 4:10-11). No individual or church can bind religious holidays. The only day God has commanded people to honor is the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2). Even activities which start out with good intentions often wind up being sinful when they are bound. Even though these religious practices are not authorized by God, we need to understand the terms used by our religious friends to be able to communicate with them on these subjects.
Wayne Burger