Changes to Christian Festivals and Fasts (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

Changes in how festivals and fasts are observed in the modern world

• Changes in traditional religious practices in the modern world mean that fasting and self-denial are less strictly observed by many modern Christians:

  • Fewer people fast completely during Lent or the Nativity Fast (Orthodox Advent)

• Practices such as giving up meat or daily prayer are often replaced by more flexible, personal acts (e.g. giving up social media)

• Church attendance during festivals such as Advent, Easter and Pentecost has decreased in some parts of the world

• Private or family-based observance is more common than public or communal worship in some Christian communities

• Some of the changes in the ways of observing festivals are as follows:

  • Traditional rituals such as lighting Advent candles or attending Maundy Thursday services may now be adapted or simplified
  • Festivals such as Holy Week or Ascension Day are less widely marked in Christian communities
  • Some denominations encourage creative or modern approaches to observance, e.g. digital Lent devotionals, online services
  • Religious festivals, especially Christmas, are sometimes celebrated more as cultural events, particularly in multicultural societies

Commercial aspects of Christmas and Easter

• In many countries, especially in the West, Christmas and Easter have become highly commercialised

• Christmas

  • This Christian festival is often focused more on gifts, shopping, decorations and entertainment than the birth of Jesus
  • Advertisements, sales and films often highlight Santa Claus, snow and family gatherings rather than the Nativity story

• Easter

  • This Christian festival is celebrated with chocolate eggs, bunnies and spring themes in secular culture
  • The resurrection of Jesus may be mentioned less often in public spaces or media
  • Some Christian customs are now part of wider secular culture, such as Easter egg hunts or Advent calendars with chocolate

• Both Christmas and Easter are often treated as national holidays, meaning many people celebrate them regardless of faith

Views of Christians about the changes

• Christians have different views about the changes in how festivals and fasts are observed, especially the growing commercial focus of Christmas and Easter

• Traditional Christians may feel that the true religious meaning of festivals such as Christmas and Easter is being lost

  • They prefer to focus on church attendance, prayer and reflection, rather than gifts or entertainment
  • Some may be concerned that commercialisation distracts from the focus that should be placed on Jesus’s birth, life, death and resurrection

• Progressive or Liberal Christians may accept modern customs as long as the religious message is still remembered

  • They might see secular traditions such as gift-giving or Easter egg hunts as a way to bring families together
  • They may use new traditions, such as chocolate Advent calendars or festive meals, to start conversations about faith

• Orthodox Christians often continue to follow traditional fasts and customs very closely

  • They may see modern changes as a weakening of Christian discipline and a move away from church teaching
  • They are more likely to preserve the full celebration of festivals such as the Nativity,Epiphany and Lent with fasting,prayer and long services

• Evangelical Christians often focus on personal belief and spreading the gospel

  • During festivals such as Christmas and Easter, they may use modern events such as Christmas concerts or Easter drama performances to share the Christian message
  • They may still be critical of how media and advertising have commercialised the festivals and reduced Jesus’s role and importance in public celebrations

Worked Example State two ways in which the observance of Christian festivals and fasts could be said to have changed in the modern world

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

One way is that fewer people attend church to observe the Christian festivals in the traditional ways [1 mark] Another way is that some churches use modern digital tools, such as online services, to reach people in creative ways [1 mark]

Exam Hint Although there are many examples given here of how Christian festivals and fasts have changed, you will have discussed this topic during your course and may have drawn up your own list of changes, particularly about Christmas and Easter celebrations. Remember that the examiner will accept any relevant points you make, so do use your own examples in your answers in addition to the notes here.