Exodus 20:8-11 says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.... For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. The History of the Bible, Animated Time travel in this animation through the history of the Bible. Since none of these holidays are mentioned in the Bible, what days does God command Christians to keep? When I think of holidays, all kinds of emotions and memories go through my mind. How: gather branches from various types of trees and rejoice before the Lord, gather as a congregation and rest. The Bible offers few clues: Celebrations of Jesus’ Nativity are not mentioned in the Gospels or Acts; the date is not given, not even the time of year. What are the holidays in the Bible? 5. This year, instead of celebrating Christmas, why not study the true festivals that God reveals in the Bible and learn about their deep meanings. (Genesis 40:20; Mark 6:21) Birthday celebrations were also held in honor of pagan deities. Pentecost is also a day of rest for the people. Custom Feasting Bridegroom Ceremonies. Leaven or yeast in the Bible symbolized sin and evil. Biblical Significance of the Month. For most of my life, I did not relate the feasts in the Bible with holidays. Why: to help the children of Israel remember to give thanks to God for the first fruits of the harvest and to show they trusted Him to bring in the rest of the harvest. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Consider a few examples. Atonement. The only birthday observances mentioned in the Bible are those of two rulers who did not worship Jehovah. The proof is overwhelming that these days are “traditions” and “commandments of men.” But vast multitudes keep them … This holiday is celebrated by building temporary booths (tents) and living in them for seven days. Nimrod is mentioned in three passages. It is the first holiday mentioned in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), and God was the first one to observe it . Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”, Should Christians celebrate every modern holiday? ... Those holidays, also called feasts, given by God in the law occur in the spring and the … The holidays in the Bible are ones instituted by God but there are also two other holidays mentioned in Scripture that were instituted and celebrated by God’s people, Purim and Hanukkah. Bible Verses About Pagan Holidays Bible verses related to Pagan Holidays from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order . Made with clay, wire, and recycled paper, the characters come to life in frame-by-frame motion. Use the calendar to plan for future holidays or as a reference to note which dates previous holidays fell on. For example, Passover always begins on the 15th of Nisan. The first major category is biblical holidays. The historical events upon which the celebration is based are recorded in Maccabees I and II, two books contained within a later collection of writings known as the Apocrypha. All Rights Reserved. In Leviticus 23, God set aside feast days for His people. Stay up-to-date on what’s new at Bibleinfo.com. Since the Bible compares leavening to sin, this feast represents the purging of sin from our lives (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Ephesians 5:11 says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”, 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 also says, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? Why: by tradition, this marks the beginning of the ten days of repentance leading up to the Day of Atonement. The Biblical Feasts and Holiday is a great way to learn the basics of each holiday! In the Bible, however, the month is referred to as “the Fourth Month,” with reference to Nisan, the First Month. Why: to thank the Lord, remember how God had provided for them, and give to the poor. Unleavened bread, eaten over a period of time, symbolized a holy walk, as with the Lord. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to … There are two central chapters in the Torah that list the biblical holidays: Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMotzi). When: Tishrei 10 (Fall, September 28, 2020), How: gather, rest, fasting (afflicting your soul). What is significant about birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible? How: during the time of the Tabernacle and Temple, the children of Israel sacrificed a lamb and then shared a special meal with their family. They are also a time to remember His works in our lives and have time to tell them to our children and grandchildren. Unlike many Jewish holidays, Hanukkah (also known as the Festival of Lights) is not mentioned in the Bible. When: Nissan 14 in the evening (Spring, the evening of March 26, 2021 ). Biblical Holidays, Including Pilgrimage Festivals. \"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. The Sabbath. Tabernacles. The word holiday is only found in the book of Esther, but the concept of a day set aside to celebrate or remember is found throughout the Bible. Unleavened Bread. The Bible does, in fact, mention Christmas and Easter—and certain other familiar holidays—but it bluntly condemns them as heathen customs. The next time you set down with your calendar, mark these dates! Th… There are two chapters in the that list the major biblical holidays, Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. Leviticus 23:6 puts the second feast on the next night: "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread unto the Lord; seven days ye must eat unleavened bread." How many holidays are there? When: 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits (Summer, May 30, 2021). Luke repeatedly mentioned the biblical Holy Days throughout the book of Acts, knowing that his readers would understand what he meant-understanding they would have only if they observed these days. This leads some to refrain from observing these celebratory days, even those that are considered Christian holidays. Leviticus 23:23-25 simply and briefly states that trumpets are to sound the first day of the seventh month and that it is a sacred holiday; verse 27 follows with the statement that the tenth day of the month is the Day of Atonement and verse 34 with the statement that the fifteenth day is the Feast of Booths. What, then, is the origin of such celebrations? Israel » Passover » Celebration. 23 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel: ‘You will announce the Lord ’s appointed feasts as holy meetings. As believers, we remember when the Holy Spirit was given to believers after the resurrection of Jesus. The reality is that the Bible forbids the observance of holidays like Christmas and Easter that have their origin centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ! Memories of recent holidays, the look on my grandchildren’s faces when they opened a special gift, and the laughter around the table. But you won’t find Christmas in the Bible! God's festivals mentioned in Leviticus 23 are biblically sanctioned and were commanded forever. The term feast here is moed and can also be translated “appointed times.”(1) These appointments are times God set aside to meet with His people, time for us to remember the mighty works of God on behalf of those who have lived before us. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. You will receive emails about new articles, features and freebies just for you. As mentioned above, the name which “came up” from Babylon with the Jewish People was Tammuz. Like Purim and Hanukkah, as Christians, we have holidays we celebrate to commemorate events related to the life of Jesus–Christmas and Easter. What does the Bible say about Christmas trees? Passover. When: First day, after the first Sabbath, after Passover (March 29, 2021). Purim When: Adar 14 and 15 (Early Spring, February 26-27, 2021) Jeremiah 10:1-5 ESV / 313 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. Comment: Though the Bible—the word of God—makes no direct references to New Year's Eve, Lent, Easter, Halloween, or Christmas, the origins of these pagan holidays are mentioned as being abominations to God. By tradition, this was the day the Lord gave Moses the Law. These are my special feasts. To learn more about God’s true holy days, download our free booklet From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You. Why: to remember how the children of Israel lived in booths after they left Egypt. Bible verses about Celebrating Pagan Holidays. This Bible feasts calendar covers the dates of the Feast of Trumpets and other Jewish holidays over a five-year span: 2018-2022. What are Bible believers called to celebrate? Unleavened bread, eaten over a period of time, … It’s possible to figure out at least the general season of Christ’s birth by looking closely at some details of your Bible, such as the priestly service of Christ’s uncle and the habits of the shepherds in the cold December climate around Bethlehem. Thus says the Lord: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. 5. The term holiday is a euphemism for “holy days.” Today, I want to explore biblical holy days, and by this, I mean holidays mentioned in the Bible or holidays that commemorate biblical events. Answer: The Bible nowhere instructs Christians to celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. All people will be taught to obey God's laws and keep these Feasts every year. Reference: Leviticus 23:26-32, Hebrews 9:11-15, When: Tishrei 15-22 (Fall, October 3-10, 2020). The Days Christ Observed. These include the three pilgrimage festivals, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. Christians should celebrate communion to commemorate Jesus’ death. Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Celebration of a holiday called “Christmas” is not mentioned in the Bible, but Romans 14 lays out the proper Christian perspective in regard to food, drink, and “special days.” It says, starting in verse 5, that “ One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. 3. The proof is overwhelming that these days are “traditions” and “commandments of men.” But vast multitudes keep them anyway, seemingly content to worship Christ in vain! Verse Concepts. Why: during the time of the Tabernacle and Temple, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement before the Lord. When harvesting the rest of their crops, they were instructed to leave the corners of the field so the poor could harvest them. God performed a miracle; one day of holy oil for the lamp stand lasted eight days, allowing time for more oil to be purified. Copyright © 2021 Grapevine Studies. 3 “‘There are six days for you to work, but the seventh day will be a special day of rest. ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. Of those eight, seven are commanded in the Mosaic Law (Purim was a later development). Where do we find this holiday in Scripture? Jesus made atonement for us, once for all, in the heavenly Temple. (such as Passover) or other books of the Hebrew Bible. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Easter. These chapters list two kinds of Israelite holidays, the three pilgrimage festivals and the High Holy Days. It is in this regard that the holiday is mentioned in the Bible. after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes. The biblical holidays are obviously those that are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, such as Purim, which is mentioned in the Book of Esther. Memories of those who were at a holiday meal last year, but not this year. The Torah reading on Shabbat has more sections of parshiot (Torah readings) than on Yom Kippur or any other Jewish holiday. When: December 25 (on the Gregorian Calendar), Why: remember the birth of Jesus, the coming of the promised Messiah, When: the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the spring equinox (2), Why: to celebrate that Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death. God set these times up for us to use them to worship Him, remember His mighty works, and to grow in our faith. Trumpets. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 says, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them And walk among them. Holidays. How: like the celebration of the First Fruits, the children of Israel brought the first fruits of the summer harvest (like wheat) to the Lord and offered them along with other offerings at the Temple. It is observed on the first full moon of the Biblical year as a feast of freedom. Revelation 14:7 says, “...Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”, How should Christians celebrate the Creator? How: after the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, each year they brought the first fruits of the spring harvest (like barley) to the Lord and offered them along with other offerings at the Temple. Our 2020-2021 Biblical Calendar and Notes is a great place to start! Christmas and Easter customs and celebrations mask these important truths. These are often referred to in the Bible prophetically as “three days.” This spacing of feasts causes them to be referred to as three feasts. Leaven or yeast in the Bible symbolized sin and evil. As believers we also remember how the death of Jesus delivered us from sin. Reference: Hanukkah is referenced in John 10:22 and the history is found in the Apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees. Hanukkah is a post-biblical feast because it commemorates the dedication of the Second Temple in 165 B.C. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”, Christians should worship and celebrate the Creator. Passover: Also known as Pesach, is a holiday that is celebrated to commemorate God’s protection of the Jews and freedom from the plague of death at the end of over 400 years as slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1-15) (3). Three times it is mentioned that all males MUST attend all three feasts every year (Exodus 23:17, 34:23, and Deuteronomy 16:16). The Feast of Tabernacles is my favorite festival. If you have access to a library, you will find it interesting to note what reference books say about holidays that are popular where you live. Topics on Celebration. Feast of Dedication – Hanukkah – Feast of Lights. I'll try to provide a good answer. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’”. After the house of Israel was divided into the northern 10 tribes and Judah in the south, King Manasseh of Judah “set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house [the Temple of God]” ( II Kings 21:7 ). Romans 6:3-6 says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? The Bible mentions at least eight holy days (or groups of days), also known as feasts or festivals. Where do I learn more about Holidays in the Bible? For you are the temple of the living God. New Year's; ... years over the apparent absence of any mention of America in the Bible’s descriptions of the end of the world. God’s festival calendar begins in mid-April of 2014. Bible Verses About Pagan Holidays Bible verses related to Pagan Holidays from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order . Leaven in the Bible typically symbolized sin and evil (1 Corinthians 5:7,8). Special Holidays. Leviticus 23 lists seven festivals of God: 1. God's Holy Days teach us how to live godly lives and give us hope by explaining His plan of salvation. The Bible does, in fact, mention Christmas and Easter—and certain other familiar holidays—but it bluntly condemns them as heathen customs. For example, on May 24 the Romans celebrated the birthday of the goddess Diana. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. The holidays in the Bible were God’s idea. Eighth Day. The first and most thorough passage is Genesis 10:8-12 : “Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. Why: to remember how God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt through Moses. There are two central chapters in the Torah that list the biblical holidays: Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”, At baptism, Christians should especially remember Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Why: to remember how the children of Israel left Egypt so quickly that they did not have time to let their bread rise and had to make unleavened bread for food. 9 Even though the birth of a baby has always been a cause for much joy, the Bible makes no reference to a birthday celebration for a servant of God. 9. This feast was literally fulfilled by Christ when He purged us of our sins (Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 9:19-22; Hebrews 10:1-6). 2. The holidays in the Bible are ones instituted by God but there are also two other holidays mentioned in Scripture that were instituted and celebrated by God’s people, Purim and Hanukkah. Topics Covered: Holidays When: Adar 14 and 15 (Early Spring, February 26-27, 2021), How: feasting, joy, and sending gifts to one another, Why: remember how God delivered His people in Ancient Persia through Esther, the Jewish Queen, When: Kislev 25 – Tevet 2  (Winter, December 11-18, 2020), How: lighting candles for eight days, adding one candle each day until all eight are lit. The Bible even says that people who won't keep the Feasts will have no rain for their crops until they obey. God will rebuild the earth and Jerusalem will be the capital. 7. Let’s examine holy days … In the New Testament, the unleavened bread is the body of our Lord (John 6:33). 4. Rest, Physical Convocations Sabbath, In Ot The Seventh Day Of The Week Work, And Rest Six Days Recreation. They are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost/Weeks, Trumpets, Tabernacles/Booths, Purim, and the Day of Atonement. Celebrations Judges 14:10. The Bible teaches seven meaningful holy days, but not the major holidays celebrated today. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 says, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after … Bible verses related to Celebrating Pagan Holidays from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Torah ( such as Passover ) or other books of the Temple the. About new articles, features and freebies just for you eaten over a of... '' Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth His hands vex. Them, and Yom Kippur or any other Jewish holiday how God had provided for them, Yom. These important truths booths ( tents ) and living in them and walk among them I did not the. 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