The Lords Day

This day is dedicated to rest and worship. It holds its roots in the Jewish Sabbath but was moved to a Sunday from Saturday because of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ was held on a Sunday.
Palm Sunday

This day marks the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem where he would face crucifixion five days later. The tale of Palm Sunday is told in four gospels and is often celebrated with palms in a manner to celebrate Jesus’ entry into the city.

The spring festival (Easter)

Easter is the most important of the Christian holidays. It marks the three days after Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection. It is marked by a 40 day period of fasting and repentance called Lent, held just before Easter, and a 50 day Easter celebration which runs to Pentecost. The origin or the name Easter is largely unknown, although the goddess of spring, Easter is attributed to it.

Twelfth Night

One might associate this particular holiday period with Christmas. Interestingly enough, it is held exactly opposite what is usually thought of as the twelve days of Christmas before the 25th of December as is the general custom. When correctly scheduled the festival is held during the 12 days and 12 nights beginning on the night of the 24th. Past the rituals associated with the period historically, it is its ending on the 12th night following its start on the first night December 24th with the adoration of Christ by the Magi. The twelve distinct nighttime celebrations are counted along with twelve distinct days. During these 24 distinct time periods opposite rule tends to be the order/disorder of the day/night. Women may dress as men and men as women. Employers serve servants and servants often take on the auspices of employers. This traditional holiday has its roots well before Christ and is generally thought to have its roots in Pagan rituals. Its end on the 12th night is followed by the beginning of the Carnival season.

St. Andrews day

Saint Andrews day is held on November 30th in honor of the Patron Saint of unmarried women, Russia and Scotland, St. Andrew. Andrew is considered the first Apostle and brother of Saint Peter. Andrew was a fisherman that followed John the Baptist and eventually Jesus at John’s suggestion. Up until just recent times Andrew has had an uneasy rest. His body’s remains have been moved and moved again since the 3d century for reasons of reward and recognition. Not the least of his body’s travels is his head in three separate instances.

As Christianity worked to find its footing with regard to Jesus there were a few different creeds that cropped up to describe Jesus’ place in the Christian world. The Roman interpretation was first and indicated that he descended into hell before rising to sit of the right hand of God. It interestingly deletes most references to Jesus’ work on Earth.

The Nicene

This particular creed comes from 324 CD and begins to resemble today’s tenants a bit more closely then the Roman creed. It begins by indicating that Christ existed before the world and judges the living and dead. Christ is one with God and that baptism is necessary for the remission of sins. Further, it proclaims that the Holy Spirit is the giver of life and speaks through the prophets. The orthodox divisions of Christianity reject this last portion to a degree but this in of itself shows how variations of Christianity were forming very early on.

Getting specific with the Athanasian

About the same time, or just a bit later the Bishop of Alexandria and/or a combination of religious people (conjecture) began to become a bit more specific with the creed that would unite Christianity in a common set of Christian beliefs. This dealt with there being three equal parts to the Trinity and that only Christians could be saved. Further, only the correct belief system would enable a person to be saved and that they could do no evil if they wanted to avoid the fires of hell.

Slowly comes together (almost)

There are portions of modern Christian beliefs cropping up in each of these creeds. Unfortunately, none is all that concrete about who gets saved and who burns in hell. Each creed believes that Jesus will return to Earth and take an assessment of each person. He will then judge their accomplishments and misdeeds. He will also make sure that all who are to join with him are baptized. Each creed, however, does not indicate whether individual divisions with the Catholic Church are acceptable for the “keeping the Catholic Faith” aspect of the provisions.

A loophole to be sure

Interestingly enough, another interesting loophole crops up on the way to salvation. If “all-men” is used as a description when considering ones good deeds does that mean everybody regardless on faith? It might appear that Jesus has slipped a ringer into the belief systems of all Christian belief systems and their acceptance into heaven and everlasting life, and it would make sense. We are all Gods children, so each of us who has not been evil and done “good works” of any kind will rise up.