Final answer:
Christmas is a significant holiday in Christianity, but Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, is considered the high point of the Church's liturgical year due to its theological significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
While Christmas is an extremely important holiday in the Christian liturgical calendar, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and central to annual celebrations, it is not considered the high point of the Church's liturgical year. That distinction typically goes to Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is seen as the culmination of the passion of Christ. Easter is the center of the Christian liturgical year and is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.
Historically, while early Christians did incorporate existing pagan celebrations, such as those of the sun god Sol Invictus, into the Christmas celebrations, this was primarily a strategic move to assimilate converts and ease the transition to the new faith. Easter, on the other hand, by coinciding with spring fertility festivals, celebrated the triumph of life over death and was thus aligned with the core message of Christianity. The theological significance of Easter as the event that established Jesus' victory over sin and death gives it precedence over other holidays like Christmas in the liturgical calendar.
The Church played a central role in the seasonal and daily life of people throughout history, with various sacraments marking major life stages. This helped embed Christian beliefs deeply into the fabric of society. Holidays such as Christmas were celebrated, but Easter's connection to the foundational Christian narrative of resurrection makes it the most significant observance in the Church year.