The Christian Year refers to the annual cycle of liturgical seasons and feast days observed in many Christian denominations. This calendar begins with Advent, a time to prepare for the coming of Christ, followed by Christmas, the celebration of Jesus' birth. Lent, a period of fasting and reflection, leads up to Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Christ. After Easter, the season of Pentecost marks the birth of the Christian church. There are various synonyms used to refer to the Christian Year such as liturgical year, church year, Christian calendar, ecclesiastical year, and cycle of the seasons. These terms all describe the same annual cycle of religious celebrations and observances.