Christmas: The Aftermath Trivia Quiz

Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th and marks the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, as described in chapter two of Matthew's Gospel. In theological terms, their visit shows that Christ came to save Gentiles as well as Jewish people.

Candlemas falls on February 2nd, forty days after Christmas. It celebrates the Presentation of the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, an important rite for Jewish parents. It is described in chapter two of Luke's Gospel, verses 22-39.

Shrove Tuesday occurs the day before the season of Lent begins, 47 days before Easter Sunday. Because Easter Sunday occurs on a different day every year, Shrove Tuesday has no set date either. It is traditionally associated with revelry and feasting, before the fasting associated with Lent. In the United Kingdom it is often known as Pancake Day, with the cooking and eating of pancakes being part of the pre-Lent preparation.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs the day after Shrove Tuesday. It is naturally a more sombre occasion and is associated with special services at which worshippers receive crosses of ash on their foreheads to mark the start of the penitential season.

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, the week preceding Easter Sunday. It celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, as described in all four of the Biblical Gospels. Its name comes from the palm fronds which the crowds waved to celebrate the event.

Maundy Thursday occurs on the Thursday of Holy Week, marking the event at the Last Supper in which Jesus washes the feet of the Apostles to demonstrate his humility. In the UK, the reigning monarch traditionally attends a church service during which he or she distributes specially minted coins known as "Maundy Money" to local senior citizens.

Good Friday is the name given to the Friday of Holy Week and commemorates the day on which Jesus was crucified and died. The word "good" is used in the slightly archaic sense of "holy" or "pious", rather than right or desirable.

Easter Sunday commemorates the day on which Jesus rose from the dead and is the most important day in the annual Christian calendar. The date varies from year to year (a "moveable feast") and is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March. It can thus occur on any date between 22 March and 25 April, although the two extremes are relatively rare.

Ascension Day marks the ascension of Jesus into heaven after his resurrection and occurs on the fortieth day after Easter Sunday (and thus always falls on a Thursday). The Sunday before Ascension Day is known as Rogation Sunday.

Whit Sunday (also known as Whitsunday or Whitsun) is the traditional UK name of the feast of Pentecost. It marks the occasion, ten days after Ascension Day, when the Holy Spirit came down to Jesus's apostles in Jerusalem, as described in the Book of Acts 2: 1-13.

The word "Whit" is derived from the Old English "hwita", meaning "white", while "Pentecost" is from the Greek word for "fiftieth".