The Christian Calendar Trivia Quiz

Answer: November

Martinmas is also known as St Martin's Day and is celebrated on 11th November each year. The date was chosen to reflect the burial day of Martin of Tours who died in 397 AD. The saint was originally a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity, becoming bishop of Tours, in France, in 371 AD. Among his good deeds is the use of his sword to split his cloak into two pieces so he could give part to a beggar.

As you would expect, St Martin is particularly remembered in France but many other European countries also celebrate on 11th November, particularly in the Catholic church.

Answer: March

The Feast of the Annunciation falls on 25th March, except when it clashes with the Easter weekend and even then only in some churches. It is a commemoration of the visit made by Gabriel to Mary, when he breaks the news to her that she will give birth to Jesus.

As I'm sure you've noticed, this date is nine months prior to Christmas Day. It is also known as Lady Day, originally Our Lady's Day, and is one of the four quarter days of the year when, by tradition, rents fell due, workers were employed and school terms began.

The others are Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas.

Answer: January

By tradition, Epiphany falls on 6th January. In the western churches, it celebrates the visit of the (traditionally three) kings to pay homage to the baby Jesus, so is also known as Three Kings' Day. The Epiphany, or Theophany, is the revelation that Jesus is the son of God to people of non Jewish faith, the Gentiles.

As a noun, the word of epiphany is used to describe any sudden moment of realisation - to put it more prosaically, when the penny drops.

Answer: September

Michaelmas is another of the quarter days, and falls on 29th September. It is known by other names, including the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the three archangels named in the Bible. As Michael is the archangel who defeated Lucifer, his name is the one attached to the festival. Michaelmas is one of the events celebrated by both Catholic and Anglican churches.

Answer: May

Ascension Day is a day of remembrance of Christ rising to heaven from Bethany on the Mount of Olives. The event took place on the fortieth day after His resurrection on the third day of Easter, and Ascension Day takes place forty days after Easter Sunday. Since the date of Easter varies each year, so does Ascension Day, but the earliest date it can occur is 30th April and the latest is 3rd June so a date in May is by far the most common.

Answer: October

This is a specifically Protestant celebration as it commemorates Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to a church door in Wittenburg. As it was a protest against Catholic indulgences, the day was only officially recognised by that church in modern times.

The date of Luther's protest is recorded as 31st October 1517, which is the date on which Reformation Day is remembered. All Hallows Eve also falls on that date, but that would be far too easy.

Answer: December

This might be the first question you answered since Advent, meaning coming, relates to the preparations for the birth of Jesus on 25th December. Advent sometimes begins at the end of November, since it officially starts on the Sunday nearest 30th November, but it always ends on Christmas Eve, 24th December. Among the traditions, many of which have been incorporated into secular celebrations, such as Advent calendars, wreaths and candles.

Answer: May/June

Pentecost is another festival which is linked to Easter, so is not on a fixed date. It occurs fifty days after Easter Sunday, so falls in May most often but also in June. The UK name for it was Whitsun or Whitsunday. As described in the Bible, in chapter 2 of Acts of the Apostles, following the Ascension of Jesus his disciples and followers were meeting on Pentecost.

They were visited by the Holy Spirit, in the form of a 'rushing wind', giving them the ability to 'speak in tongues'. Its significance is that this is classed as the beginning of the missionary work of Christ's followers, spreading the Word far and wide.

Answer: February

Candlemas is also called Presentation of the Lord or Purification of the Virgin Mary. The origin is in Jewish law where a woman was required to visit the temple for purification forty days after the birth of a child. In addition, the first born son has to be presented to God and consecrated.

The date is set as 2nd February. There are historic records of the Purification being celebrated as long ago as the fourth century AD. In the Bible, the visit is described in the Gospel of Luke.

Answer: August

Lammas is celebrated on 1st August and marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is also called Loaf Mass Day and the ceremonies for it involve bringing a loaf of bread to the church to be blessed. The bread needs to have been made from newly harvested wheat.

It seems to have been adopted as a Christian festival from the Celtic harvest thanksgiving called Lughnasadh, which was also held on the 1st August.