Lesson video

The question we're going to be exploring in today's lesson is, what are the Christian celebrations? You might know some of these already, but we will also be learning about celebrations that are less familiar.

This is what the structure of today's lesson is going to look like.

We're going to start with our star words, then we're going to look at different celebrations that Christians celebrate, then we're going to be looking at the patron saint of England.

Then we're going to talk a little bit about different traditions, and finally, we're going to finish by looking at Christmas around the world.

Let's start off with making sure our equipment is ready.

So please make sure you have an exercise book or paper, pencil, and that your brain is switched on and ready to learn.

On the screen you can see the star words for today's lesson.

I will be explaining these star words in more detail throughout the lesson, but let's start by saying them out loud using my turn and then your turn.

Celebrations.

Advent.

Christmas.

Lent.

Holy Week.

Easter Sunday.

Patron saint.

Awesome, good job.

Now, Christians celebrate the important events in Jesus's life, for example, the birth of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus.

There are lots of celebrations throughout the year, however, there are five festivals which are the most important, and these are the ones that you can see on the screen.

These are Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday.

Which of these celebrations or festivals have you heard about before? What do you already know about these festivals? Which of these are new to you? We are now going to look at these festivals in a bit more depth.

But first of all, I would like you to pause the video now to have a go at the task on the screen.

Did you get the answer? Good job, you've made an excellent start to today's lesson.

The most important events in Jesus's life are celebrated in Christianity.

Let's start off with Advent.

Advent is an important part of the Christian calendar.

It means coming.

Advent means? Coming, good.

And is a period before Christmas.

Advent comes before? Christmas.

Good job.

And it celebrates the birth of Jesus.

Some Christians believe that this is when the Three Wise Men began their journey to see Jesus in the manger.

Advent is all about preparing for Christmas day and it starts on the Sunday nearest to the 30th November.

So at the very beginning of December.

Pause the video now to complete the task on the screen.

So let me just remind you, we said that Advent means coming.

So Advent celebrates the birth of Jesus.

Did you get the answer correct? Good job if you did.

And if you didn't, it's a good reminder so that we can remember, because I'll test you again later on in this lesson.

The next celebration we're going to look at is Christmas.

This is a celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Do you remember what the story of Jesus's birth is called? Think back to our previous lessons.

Good job.

The nativity, my turn, your turn.

The nativity.

At Christmas people exchange gifts and spend a lot of time with family.

They put up a special tree, which you can see on the screen, and they also decorate their houses.

During the celebration, many Christians also go to the church.

Pause the video now to complete the task on the screen.

How did you do? The key thing was to remember that people exchange gifts and they spend a lot of time with family.

You might have also said they put up trees as well and decorate their houses.

That is also correct.

Now let's look at the celebration of Lent.

Lent is the period leading up to Easter and it lasts for 40 days.

How many days does Lent last for? Shout it out.

Good, it lasts for 40 days.

This is because during Lent, Christians are remembering the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying.

Fasting means Jesus didn't eat during those 40 days.

Now, because people want to celebrate this, they often give up something that they enjoy in this period, for example, chocolate.

Lots of people like chocolate, so they decide to give it up for 40 days until it's Easter.

Pause the video now and have a go at the task on the screen.

Okay, so key things to remember is that during Lent people give something up for 40 days, and this is to remember when Jesus was in a desert 40 days and was fasting and praying.

I hope you also got something along these lines.

If not, you can pause the video and edit your answers.

Now let's look at Holy Week.

We know that there are seven days in a week.

So the Holy Week are the seven days, which include Palm Sunday, you can see the picture.

And this is when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, The Last Supper, which is the last supper that Jesus had with His 12 disciples before He was crucified, and Good Friday, this is when Jesus was actually crucified.

So the Holy Week is remembering three key things.

Palm Sunday, when Jesus arrived to Jerusalem, The Last Supper, and when Jesus is crucified.

Do you remember when Jesus was crucified? What day of the week was it? Call it out.

Good, it was on a Friday.

And that's why Christians call that Friday, Good Friday.

Now let's have a look at Easter Sunday.

This is the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

So on Friday He was crucified, and then on Sunday He rose from the dead.

People exchange chocolate eggs during Easter, and the reason they do this is because eggs represent a new life or a new beginning.

What do eggs represent? Good job.

A new life and a new beginning.

Pause the video now to complete the task on the screen.

The answer was C.

I hope you got that correct, and if you did give yourself a pat on the back.

Now that we've finished looking at all five celebrations, I would like you to try to remember all five.

Firstly, what the key word is, so what is a celebration called? But secondly, also what do they do on that celebration? So now I would like you to match up the description with the names of the celebrations.

For example, if I look, I could match up Easter Sunday, which is number four, and I'm going to match it up with B, because on Easter Sunday, that is when Jesus rose from the dead and that is when people exchange eggs because it represents a new life and a new beginning.

I've now given you an example to get you started.

Pause the video now and complete the rest.

Match up the celebration with the description of the celebration.

Okay, so now you can see the answers on the screen, and I suggest you pause the video so that you can check whether you got them all correct.

As well as these special celebrations, many Christians also celebrate saints days.

These days remember men and women who were very special and who Christians believe performed miracles to help others.

Many countries have chosen a special saint called a patron saint.

My turn, your turn.

Patron saint.

The patron saint of England is St.

George.

Stories about St.

George tell how he killed a dragon.

Now in the picture on the screen, you can just about make out the dragon on the floor.

As a Christian, St.

George had a cross, and this is why the flag of England shows St.

George's cross on the middle with a white background.

Now you know why the England flag looks the way it does.

So just remind me, who is the patron saint of England? Shout it out.

Good, you should have said St.

George.

And can you remind me what is this patron saint? Good.

It is a special saint.

I would now like you to draw out a rectangle, using a pencil and a ruler to make it really nice and neat.

In this rectangle I would like you to draw St.

George's flag.

If you have a red colouring pencil, you might want to use this to colour it in Pause the video now so you can complete the task on the screen.

We are now going to talk about traditions.

Christian is a global religion, which means there are Christians all around the world.

All Christians celebrate Christmas as the day that Jesus was born.

Do you remember what that story is called? Good job, "The Nativity." So on Christmas, many Christians might go to the church to listen to readings from the Bible about "The Nativity." However, not all countries celebrate the festivals in exactly the same way.

Different traditions or ways of celebrating have emerged over time.

We are now going to explore Christmas and what it looks like all around the world.

Let's start with Japan.

In Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken is the most popular Christmas dinner.

If you celebrate Christmas, what do you normally have for Christmas dinner? Now let's look at China.

In China, on Christmas Eve, people give apples as gifts and they wrap them up in colourful paper.

This is because the word apple apparently sounds like Christmas Eve in Mandarin.

This is the language spoken by some people in China.

In the USA, people gather dressed up as Christmas characters.

This person looks like they're having lots of fun.

Pause the video now to complete the task on the screen.

Show me a thumbs up if you got the correct answer.

Good job.

In Russia, they celebrate Christmas on a different day to England.

In England, we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, but in Russia, they celebrate Christmas on the 7th, January.

When do they celebrate Christmas? Good, on the 7th, January.

Pause the video now to complete the task on the screen.

Did you get the answer? Well done for staying focused and remembering these key facts.

Now let's look at Sweden.

In Sweden, a giant goat made up of straw is built at the beginning of the season.

Now that you've learned about different ways that Christmas is celebrated around the world, I would now like you to match the country to the Christmas tradition.

Pause the video now so you can match them up.

On the screen, you now have the answers.

So I'm just going to give you a few moments, you might want to pause, so that you can check your answers.

Finally, celebrations religious or non-religious can be really fun, and I wonder what celebrations you look forward to.

Maybe this is a celebration in another religion or a celebration like a birthday or celebrating a new year.

Can you share your favourite celebration with me.