The holy days of the seven weeks of Easter observances that the traditional churches still follow were made up during the fourth century AD. Some independent evangelical churches, like Richmond Park Church, choose not to stringently follow traditions that were made up by the fourth century church, but which are not spelled out in the Bible. There is nothing inherently wrong with these traditions, if they are designed to point people in the direction of the example and life of Jesus, but neither is it compulsory to observe these created "holy days" to be a faithful Christian. However, after several decades of making a conscious effort to separate themselves from things which are merely "tradition", and not specifically Biblical, many evangelical churches are coming round to the idea that these traditional ceremonies are not without merit. Some are being re-introduced into independent churches and traditional churches, in a slightly revised fashion focusing on doing something pro-active to help others during Lent as a constructive way of not focusing on our selfs, eg the "Buy Less" "credit card".  

What is Lent? Lent, a Teutonic word originally meaning 'the spring season', has been celebrated for at least 1500 years. It is a time of self-examination and repentance and corresponds to the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent in the wilderness, coming to an end on Easter Eve, counting inclusively. Sundays are for 'joyful celebration' and not days of 'discipline and self-denial' and so are not officially part of the fasting of Lent.

These days Christians sometimes give up chocolate or alcohol for Lent rather than whole food groups! But the aim is the same; it's about denying yourself something you want, and instead focusing the energy of that desire on God.

Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") / "Pancake Day" - 47 days before Easter Sunday

This is the last day before Lent. "Shrove" means to 'have heard confession, assigned penance and absolved'. From the Middle Ages until the late Renaissance, eating all animal products except fish (which were considered bloodless) was forbidden during Lent. In more modern times the Lenten fast was confined to Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, and abstinence from meat did not include other animal products (eggs, milk and cheese, for example). Therefore on Shrove Tuesday people made pancakes to use up their supplies of eggs, milk, butter and other fats. These cakes were made in flat pans (hence pancakes) and were seen as a sign of self-indulgence before the fast!

Ash Wednesday - 46 days before Easter Sunday

On Ash Wednesday many traditional churches have an 'Ashing service' where Ash made from the previous year's palms are sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense and symbolically placed on the forehead in the sign of a cross, signifying penance. It is also a reminder of our own mortality: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and of a time when people repented with ashes and wearing sackcloth.

Mothers Day - 21 days before Easter Sunday

This is always on the fourth Sunday during Lent, and is now a day set aside to remember, thank and celebrate mothers. Origianlly, in England, it was a day for people to attend their "mother church", ie. the biggest church or cathedral in the area. The local parish church that people normally attended was known as the "daughter church".

 Palm Sunday - 7days before Easter Sunday

The most important week in the traditional Church calendar is Holy Week. Through the week Christians recall the events that occurred in Jerusalem when Jesus entered the city, was crucified, died and then returned to life. The week starts with Palm Sunday when Christians remember Jesus entering Jerusalem and the crowds laying Palm leaves in front of him.

Maundy Thursday - 3 days before Easter Sunday

On Maundy Thursday Christians remember Jesus washing his disciples feet. His words are recorded in John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." This gives rise to the name for the day. The Latin for 'commandment' is 'mandatum' - hence Maundy. In England on Maundy Thursday the Queen follows a very traditional role of giving Maundy coins. A complete set of Maundy money consists of a groat (4p), a threepence (3p), a half-groat (2p) and a penny (1p) - totalling 10p given to pensioners of "modest income" whoare selected for their service to "church and community". Some people believe that Lent officially ends at sundown and celebrate with Holy Communion and, often, a meal known as a 'agapé' or 'love feast'.

Good Friday - 2 days before Easter Sunday

This is the day when Christians remember Jesus dying on the cross at Calvary for our sins. But there is confusion about how Jewish times and dates were worked out, resulting in some Christians being CONVINCED he was crucified on a WEDNESDAY (also the Wild Olive website) and others ADAMENT it was a FRIDAY. Either way, traditionally, Christians think about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins on the Friday.

Holy Saturday or Easter Eve - 1 day before Easter Sunday

The last day of Lent. Holy Saturday is about emptiness, reflecting on the awfulness of a world without Jesus, and our need for him. It is meant to be a day of prayer.

Easter Sunday

The Christian festival reaches its climax on Easter Day with celebration marking Jesus conquering death. Counting inclusively, as was done at the time, from Friday makes Sunday the third day. So you can say Jesus rose on the third day. The resurrection was such a stunning event that Christians held celebrations on Sundays in addition to the Jewish Sabbath, and as the church grew away from Judaism, Sunday became the regular day of worship. (although many Christians argue there is absolutely no Biblical mandate for Christians making Sunday their Sabbath, and therefore Saturday should still be observed as the Sabbath).

Ascension Day - 40 days AFTER Easter Sunday

Looking forward from Easter day to the end of the Easter period there are the little remembered Rogation days (for prayer, and formerly also of fasting, aimed at persuading God to protect and give a good harvest). These lead up to Ascension Day 40 days after Easter Day - when we remember Jesus ascending into heaven. This concludes the Easter period itself.

Pentecost / Whit Sunday - 50 days AFTER Easter Sunday

50 days after Easter is Pentecost (from the Greek for "the fiftieth"). On this day Christians remember the Holy Spirit first coming and filling Christians with God's power. Pentecost is also known as Whit Sunday so called because of the white clothes worn by those who were baptised that day.

[A full list of sources used to compile this article can be found under Links - Acknowledgements for Easter information]