Some days of the Church Calendar, such as Christmas
Day and Epiphany, are the same every year. Many of
the others change from year to year (see This
Table ) because they are linked to Easter, which is
on the Sunday following the first full moon of spring
(i.e. first after the March equinox).
29 November 2020 - First Sunday in Advent
The first in the four-Sunday countdown to Christmas. This
is the beginning of the 2021 Church Year. We start
lighting the advent candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love,
one per Sunday. The first Sunday of Advent can be as early
as November 27 (if Christmas falls on a Sunday - e.g.
2022) or as late as December 3 (if Christmas falls on a
Monday - e.g. 2023).
24 December 2020 - Christmas Eve
We hold a Christmas Eve carol service. A final candle,
the Christ Candle, is lit.
25 December 2020 - Christmas day
We celebrate Christ's birth. This is a very
symbolic time in our and many other religions. The
winter solstice has just passed on December 21, and the
days are lengthening, signifying the triumph of light over
darkness. We light Christmas lights and spend time
with our families. Christmas day is Day 1 of the
traditional "12 days of Christmas". Day 12 is
the day before Epiphany. "12th Night" refers to the last
night before Epiphany.
6 January 2021 - Epiphany. A revelation or
manifestation. Christ is revealed to the world. In some
countries it is the feast of the Magi ("Three Kings
day"). Epiphany is the first day after the
12 days of Christmas.
16 February 2021 - Shrove Tuesday
The day before the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.
Some people traditionally eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday
(Pancake Day). This is also the day for final
parties and carnivals like Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and
Fastnacht before the fasting of Lent.
17 Febuary 2021 - Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent, a 40 day (not
counting Sundays, which are not considered part of Lent)
countdown to Easter. Lent is traditionally a time of
self-denial. The name Ash Wednesday dates back to a
time when people put ashes on their foreheads to remind
them of the sackcloth and ashes of penitent sinners. On
the first Sunday of Lent we light six candles representing
the six weeks of Lent and put out one a week until the
final one is extinguished on Good Friday.
21 March 2021 - "Official" March Equinox
The use of an "official" date makes Easter fall on the
same Sunday all over the world. The equinox is the instant
that the sun is right over the equator, which can be March
19, 20 or 21 depending on the year, and what time zone you
are in. For example, this year (2021) in Steveston the
real equinox is March 20, at 2:37 am PDT.
28 March 2021 - Palm Sunday.
The Sunday prior to Easter Sunday. Jesus rides into
Jerusalem on a donkey and people scatter palm branches on
the ground. Sometimes we hand out palm branches at the
service.
28 March 2021 - "Paschal" Full Moon
First "official" full moon on or after the official
March equinox. Easter is the first Sunday after this. If
the Paschal full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is the
next Sunday, so the earliest that Easter can be is when
the Paschal full moon falls on a Saturday. The date of the
Paschal full moon is taken from tables based on a 19
year cycle. For the years 1900 to 2199, you can use This
simple Table. For other years, use This
Table from the Astronomical Society of South
Australia. This official date is usually within a day or
two of the true full moon date. For this year (2021)
the astronomical full moon is on March 28, in
agreement with the tables. Defining an "official" full
moon date makes sure that Easter always falls on the same
Sunday in all time zones.
1 April 2021 - Maundy Thursday
The day before Good Friday. Services are held at
selected churches. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word
mandatum, or commandment (the same root as mandatory).
This refers to the command to love others, which Jesus
gave to his disciples at the Last Supper.
2 April 2021 - Good Friday
The Crucifixion. We have a church
service on Good Friday. The service rotates among Richmond
churches.
4 April 2021 - Easter Sunday
The Resurrection. Traditionally, this was the holiest
day of the year. Often people who came to church only once
a year came on Easter Sunday. This role now seems to
be taken by Christmas Eve.
13 May 2021 - Ascension
Jesus ascends into heaven on the 40th day after
resurrection. In some countries this is a holiday.
Not here. We observe it on the nearest Sunday.
23 May 2021 - Pentecost
From the Greek "50th day". If you count Easter
as day 1, Pentecost is day 50. Jesus' disciples
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Some traditions hold
that they could "speak in tongues" and understand foreign
languages, symbolic of being able to spread the Gospel to
all peoples. Pentecost is considered the birthday of
the Christian Church.
30 May 2021 - Trinity Sunday
Celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost. Celebrates
the Creator, Word and Spirit in one God. (In older
tradition "Father, Son and Holy Ghost")
28 November 2021 - First Sunday of Advent
Official start of the 2022 Church Year.
