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Holidays
Christians celebrate a number of holidays:
The Christmas Season 
Christmas, on December 25th, celebrates the birth of Jesus. The four weeks prior to this is referred to as Advent ("coming"), in anticipation of the "coming" of Christmas. In many European countries, Epiphany is celebrated in early January in commemoration of the day the three wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
The Easter Season
The other major holy day period in the Christian calendar is Holy Week. This comes in early spring and begins with Palm Sunday. This day commemorates when Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, some days before his death. Later that week, Christians observe Maundy Thursday, recalling Jesus' commandment to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him. The next day, Good Friday, commemorates Jesus' death on the cross. Then, on the following Sunday, Christians celebrate Easter when, with great joy, they recall Jesus' resurrection from death.
Other Holy Days
Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant churches observe Lent - a 40 day period of time, beginning sometime in February, for personal sacrifice and reflection in preparation for the Easter season. Catholic and Orthodox churches begin Lent with Ash Wednesday, when Christians receive the mark of a cross, using ash, on their foreheads.
Fifty days after Easter some Christians also observe Pentecost, remembering the day the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles fifty days after the resurrection.
Lutherans and some other Protestants observe Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday in October in recognition of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, marked by Martin Luther's nailing of his 95 thesis to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany on October 31, 1517.
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