Rituals Christianity

Brief description of each then go in depth on one or two rituals

Festivals/ Holy Days:

Advent/Christmas

This is a time of Spiritual preparation before Christmas for 4 weeks before Christmas. All Christians are encouraged to participate in this practice. This helps to remind Christians of the true meaning of Christmas while preparing them spiritually for the Christmas.The true purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary. To many the purpose of Christmas seems to be fading due to the holiday becoming increasingly secularized.

Includes various symbols of Advent:

• Wreath: Circle with no beginning or end to represent that God is here and always will be here. It is made of evergreen because God sought to give us new life through his death and resurrection.
• 3 Candle:Symbolizes penance, preparation, and sacrifice
• Light: Christ
• Progression of candle lighting: the increasing readiness to meet God

Lifetime Rituals/Rights of Passage:

Baptism

This is the cleaning of one of their sins so that they can be considered saved. Like the water cleans the outside of the body the blood of Jesus is to wash Christians of their sins. Baptism is a sign of conversion not the means to conversion. Baptism shows others that one as truly accepted God as their savior and Jesus as his son. During this time godparents are given to the child. Although baptism isn't required for conversion it is a way Christians show God that they are His. Different denominations of Christians have different views when it comes to the significance of baptism. Through baptism one is accepted fully into the Christian community. Baptism can occur to anyone regardless of age and gender. During this process God parents are assigned to the individual who was baptized.