In the biblical context, a festival-day refers to a day set apart for religious celebration and worship, often marked by specific rituals, sacrifices, and communal gatherings. These days are integral to the liturgical calendar of ancient Israel and hold significant theological and cultural importance.

Old Testament Festivals

The Old Testament outlines several key festival-days instituted by God for the Israelites. These festivals are primarily detailed in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They serve as both commemorations of God's past acts of salvation and as opportunities for communal worship and renewal of the covenant relationship with God.

1. Sabbath (Shabbat): The weekly day of rest, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, is a foundational festival-day. It commemorates God's rest after creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and serves as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16-17). Leviticus 23:3 states, "For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; it is a Sabbath to the LORD wherever you live."

2. Passover (Pesach) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread: These festivals commemorate the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. Passover begins on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) and is immediately followed by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. Exodus 12:14 instructs, "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a perpetual statute for the generations to come."

3. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Celebrated seven weeks after Passover, this festival marks the end of the grain harvest and is associated with the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Leviticus 23:21 commands, "On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This is a permanent statute for you wherever you live throughout your generations."

4. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): This festival marks the beginning of the civil year and is a day of rest and trumpet blasts. Leviticus 23:24-25 states, "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts. You must not do any regular work, but you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD."

5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, it is the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. Leviticus 23:27-28 instructs, "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On this day you are not to do any work, for it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God."

6. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): This week-long festival commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and God's provision. Leviticus 23:34-36 commands, "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it continues for seven days. On the first day there is to be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples observed these Jewish festivals, which provided a backdrop for many of His teachings and miracles. For instance, the Last Supper was a Passover meal (Matthew 26:17-19), and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred during Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

The early Christian church reinterpreted these festivals in light of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. The Apostle Paul, while acknowledging the value of these days, emphasized the freedom believers have in Christ. In Colossians 2:16-17, he writes, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ."

Theological Significance

Festival-days in the Bible are not merely cultural or historical observances; they are deeply theological, pointing to God's redemptive work and His covenant relationship with His people. They serve as reminders of God's faithfulness, His provision, and His call to holiness. Through these sacred times, the community of faith is invited to remember, celebrate, and anticipate the fulfillment of God's promises.

Whether Christ Suffered at a Suitable Time?
... His own slaying until the Friday, when the old Pasch was kept." And this appears
to tally with the statement (Jn.13:1-5) that "before the festival day of the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered at a.htm

The Thirty ??ons are not Typified by the Fact that Christ was ...
... First of all, after He had made the water wine at Cana of Galilee, He went up to
the festival day of the passover, on which occasion it is written, "For many ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxii the thirty aeons are.htm

This Day are Opened, Our Mouths to Give Thanks
... tidings? 4. This is a festival day, whereon hang the feasts: for if wrath
had taken us captive, lo! our feasts too had ceased. Whereas ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn ii this day are.htm

Interruption of the visions of the Passion by the Appearance of St ...
... Her union with its spirit was so complete, that no sooner did a festival day begin
(that is to say, on the eve), than a perfect change took place within her ...
/.../chapter xxiv interruption of the.htm

The Morning Trial.
... had already been dispatched to beg him to have all in readiness for trying a criminal,
as it was necessary to make no delay on account of the festival day. ...
/.../chapter xiii the morning trial.htm

Hyrcanus Receives the High Priesthood, and Ejects Ptolemy Out of ...
... Nor is it lawful for us to journey, either on the Sabbath day, or on a festival
day [24] But when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces, the king of Parthin, he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hyrcanus receives the.htm

Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Made of Unleavened Bread?
... which is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the moon; and Christ instituted this
sacrament at the supper which He celebrated "before the festival day of the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament ought to.htm

A Glance at the Disciples of Jesus on Holy Saturday.
... reduced, an aspect of desolation which was rendered still more depressing by the
marked contrast it bore to the usual state of the Temple on the festival day. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter lviii a glance at.htm

Judas and his Band.
... contempt. They said that sufficient time would not intervene before the festival
day, and that there would be a tumult among the people. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter ii judas and his.htm

More than Ten Thousand Baptized.
... sake." Meantime, disputing and teaching day by day, he filled up the time appointed
with the labour of teaching; and when the festival day arrived, upwards of ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter lxxii more than ten thousand.htm

Festival-day (1 Occurrence)
Festival-day. Festival, Festival-day. Festival-robes . Multi-Version
Concordance Festival-day (1 Occurrence). Mark 14 ...
/f/festival-day.htm - 6k

Festival (62 Occurrences)
... desired; (WEY). Mark 14:2 But they said, "Not on the Festival-day, for fear
there should be a riot among the people." (WEY NAS). Mark 15 ...
/f/festival.htm - 23k

Octave (3 Occurrences)
... semitones. 2. (n.) The eighth day after a church festival, the festivalday
being included; also, the week following a church festival. 3 ...
/o/octave.htm - 7k

Festival-robes (2 Occurrences)
Festival-robes. Festival-day, Festival-robes. Festivals . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (DBY). Festival-day, Festival-robes. Festivals . Reference Bible.
/f/festival-robes.htm - 7k

Child (355 Occurrences)
... did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old;
and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festivalday (Genesis 21:8 ...
/c/child.htm - 51k

Haggai (14 Occurrences)
... an adjective formed from chagh, "feast"): 1. Name: The word "Haggai" may mean "festal,"
the prophet having been born perhaps on a festivalday; compare the ...
/h/haggai.htm - 28k

Holiday (5 Occurrences)
... of some event. See Holyday. 2. (n.) A day of exemption from labor; a day
of amusement and gayety; a festivalday. 3. (n.) A day ...
/h/holiday.htm - 8k

Fear (970 Occurrences)
... sleeping. (BBE). Mark 14:2 But they said, "Not on the Festival-day, for fear
there should be a riot among the people." (WEY BBE). Mark ...
/f/fear.htm - 50k

Greece (15 Occurrences)
... 2. Temples: In this precinct stood the temple, facing toward the East, so that the
morning sun would flood its interior when it was opened on a festivalday. ...
/g/greece.htm - 59k

What is the Lord's day? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Day of the Dead? | GotQuestions.org

If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org

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