What are Christian traditions?

Answer 1

Because of all the denominations of the Christian faith, there are a lot of traditions. Not all groups participate in all the traditions.

Christening - the baptism of a baby, based on the theory that human beings are born evil, and in order for even a small child to go to Heaven, he or she needs to be baptised.

Communion - this is one of the biggies, and there are SO many variations. Churches of Christ observe communion (the symbolic eating of the unleavened bread and wine (grape juice) to mirror the last supper of Christ, in which he claimed the bread was to represent his flesh, and the wine was to represent his blood), weekly. Most other denominations observe it at different times in different ways, and even with different beliefs about it. Most observe it on special occasions, such as Easter, Christmas, Christmas Eve. I believe there are some faiths that claim that it is in some way more than symbolic. There are some who actually serve wine. There are some who are fed it by a priest or reverand, usually after it has been blessed. Some dip the bread into the wine. For Catholics, the First Communion of a child is a major event that is prepared for with great care and study.

Baby Dedication: This, from what I can tell, stems from the Christening idea, only it is used in churches who don't believe you baptise babies, but you wait and teach them until they choose to believe. Instead, parents pledge before the church that they will raise the child in the Lord and the church, and the church pledges to the parents that they will help guide the family and help the family, drawing off the "it takes a village to raise a child" belief. Following the pledges, many times the baby is passed to various members of the church and "introduced" to the spiritual family, and is prayed over.

Palm Sunday: The Sunday before Easter, this is to mark the jubilation described as Christ rode into Jeruselum. It is bittersweet, because it's easy to parallel the crowd praising Jesus and worshipping him and the crowd demanding his crucifixion just days later.

Maundy Thursday: I don't know if I've spelled that right. This is to remember the last supper of Christ.

Good Friday: The Friday before Easter Sunday, Christians remember and mourn the death of Christ. That day is a combination of grief and celebration, mixed with intense anticipation of the resurrection of Christ. It's been said that the following Saturday is the saddest day in history, because it was during that time Christ was dead (and because he took with him the sins of the world, many believe for that day he was making the payment for those sins, but he rose out of Hell to live again, and then to ascend to Heaven.)

Easter Sunday: The cornerstone of the Christian faith. Had Christ not rose on Easter Sunday, as we believe he did, he would have gone down in history as just another good teacher or rabbi. It should be mentioned that some of the plainer Christian faiths don't observe Easter or any of the related holidays based on the fact that they feel the resurrection of Christ should be celebrated daily, not one Sunday a year.

Pentacost: A while after Easter, after the ascension of Christ, the apostles spoke to the gathered Jewish people who came to celebrate Pentacost, and they were bestowed with the Holy Spirit. Just about all Christians believe this to be the birth of the Christian church.

Confession: Everyone knows what this one is, you go to a priest and confess your sins, and he assigns you a penance to absolve your sins. This is more for Catholic or other so-called "high churches", since they believe the average person doesn't have access to God himself. Therefore, they'll go through preists, saints, and Mary to petition God on their behalf. Most Protestant churches believe that you don't need more than Christ, so we skip the middle-men, and petition Christ to go to God on our behalf, or pray directly to God Himself.

Advent: The four weeks before Christmas, each week or in some cases, each day, is marked by the lighting of candles, prayer and song. Advent calendars are a kind of game for children. Each day, the calendar holds some small gift or treat, and it's a fun way for children to count down to Christmas.

Christmas: Just about everyone knows the story of Christmas as Christians believe it. Joseph and Mary (the VERY pregnant virgin bride) travel to Bethlehem and have to resort to staying in a stable instead of an inn, and that's the night Christ was born. Some churches don't celebrate this aspect of Christmas officially, claiming Christ wasn't born in December, and since God gave us no clear time of his birth, his birth is less important than his death. Most people celebrate it anyway, even if not prompted by the church.

Lent: The period of time before Easter, I'm wanting to say it begins with Ash Wednesday, which follows Mardi Gras, but I could be TOTALLY off on that. Anyway, people who observe the season of Lent pray and decide on one thing they like that they do without for that period of time. The theory is that the money, time and effort you would spend on that one thing goes to God. So if you give up sodas for Lent (sounds stupid, but that's what I would have to give up), you would donate the money you would spend on cokes to God, and the time you would spend going to get a soda would be spent in prayer.

Baptism: this is probably one of the biggest ones, and one of the most diverse. Several churches christen babies, as I said earlier, but beyond that, baptism happens in varying amounts and with varying opinions of importance. Some churches preach that if you aren't physically baptised, you aren't a Christian yet. Some preach that it's not a necessity for salvation, but it's a command and should be done. Some say it's an outward sign of an inward choice, so it's a way of showing others what you've already decided in your heart. Some put virtually no importance on it.

Praying and Fasting: like Lent, this is used to intensify your connection to God. It's also kind of a way to show your dedication to whatever you're doing it for (usually it has to do with an upcoming decision), and a way to put your faith to action. Some churches utilize it more than others. My own denomination has times of fasting, but it's generally done for short-term, and is not expected in order to prove your faith (I have a medical condition which means I can't fast, and pregnant women, women who are nursing, children, etc. aren't expected to participate.)

There are lots more, but I think I covered the most common ones. Various churches also do things like last rites, confirmations, shunnings, missions, blessings, etc.

Answer 2

Catholic bashers will have alot to answer for. Ash Wednesday is a Christian Catholic Tradition started by the Catholic Church. When I asked a question about Ash Wednesday and I related it to a Catholic Tradition all kinds of people jumped on me that other Churches did that too. I can't believe so many people just pick and choose which Tradition they want to steal from the Catholic Church and then turn around and condemn the Church for it's Traditions.

Answer 3

Just Christmas and Easter,

Lent, and ST. Patricks day are Catholic,
also communion isn't a tradition, it's a base line fundimental practice, like water baptism

Answer 4

Tradition refers to a general practice and rule of faith.

Protestants claim to believe only the Bible, yet that belief is based on tradition, because nowhere in the Bible can that belief be found.

Catholics base many of their beliefs and dogmas on Tradition, which is what they know to be true, based on the prior teaching and practices of Jesus and the apostles.

Some Jewish groups are also higly traditional, in many of their beliefs and practices.

Answer 5

All too often they are an obstruction to having a personal relationship with God. God's church has become divided over religious dogma and tradition. It's time to unite in Christ, to prepare ourselves as the bride for His coming.

Answer 6

They are traditions that were established by the early church with beliefs borrowed from pagans and other religions. The early church did this to make their religion appealing to all the peoples thereby making it friendly, and easier to convert others.

Answer 7

The ones the Apostles handed down? Or
The ones the Catholic church stole from the pagans and handed down calling them Christian?

Answer 8

To crusade into lands without respect or consideration for other religions and convert them to Christianity. For example "The Crusades"

Answer 9

Christmas, Easter, Lent, St.Patrick's Day, communion.

Answer 10

going to Church to worship GOD, honoring the Ten Commandments, obeying the laws rules and mores of their culture and society, obeying what they consider GOD'S law, reading THE HOLY BIBLE, observing the various religious holidays, etc.