In the context of the Bible, holidays are special days set apart for religious observance and celebration. These days are often marked by specific rituals, sacrifices, and communal gatherings. The concept of holidays in the Bible is deeply rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people, serving as reminders of His mighty acts and His ongoing provision and care.

Old Testament Holidays

1. Sabbath (Shabbat): The Sabbath is the first and most foundational of the biblical holidays, instituted by God at creation. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." The Sabbath is a weekly day of rest and worship, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, as commanded in Exodus 20:8-11.

2. Passover (Pesach): Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, as described in Exodus 12. The holiday involves the sacrifice of a lamb and the eating of unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt.

3. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot): This seven-day festival immediately follows Passover, during which no leavened bread is eaten. Leviticus 23:6-8 outlines its observance, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Exodus.

4. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Celebrated 50 days after Passover, this holiday marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Leviticus 23:15-21 describes the offering of firstfruits and the wave offering of two loaves of bread.

5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): This is the Jewish New Year, a day of rest and blowing of trumpets, as commanded in Leviticus 23:23-25. It marks the beginning of the ten Days of Awe leading up to Yom Kippur.

6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): The holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Leviticus 16 and 23:26-32 detail the rituals of atonement and the importance of afflicting one's soul.

7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): This seven-day festival celebrates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and God's provision. Leviticus 23:33-43 instructs the building of temporary shelters and the offering of sacrifices.

8. Purim: Although not one of the original Levitical feasts, Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot, as recorded in the Book of Esther. It is a time of feasting and joy.

9. Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication): Also not part of the Levitical feasts, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil. It is mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22.

New Testament Observances

The New Testament does not prescribe specific holidays for Christians, but it does record the observance of Jewish festivals by Jesus and His disciples. For example, Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:17-29). The early church also gathered on the first day of the week, Sunday, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 20:7).

Christian Holidays

Over time, the Christian church developed its own liturgical calendar, incorporating significant events in the life of Jesus and the early church:

1. Christmas: Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is observed on December 25th by most Christians. While the exact date of Jesus' birth is not specified in the Bible, the event is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

2. Easter: Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus, Easter is the most significant Christian holiday. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The resurrection is central to the Christian faith, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

3. Pentecost: Marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter. Acts 2 records this event, which is considered the birth of the Christian church.

4. Other Observances: Various Christian traditions observe additional holidays such as Lent, Good Friday, and Ascension Day, each with its own theological significance and historical development.

In summary, holidays in the biblical context serve as vital expressions of faith, remembrance, and community, reflecting the ongoing relationship between God and His people throughout history.Leviticus 25:2-7
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath to the LORD.
Topicalbible.org

Genesis 2:1-25
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Topicalbible.org

6614. pethigil -- perhaps an expensive robe
... stomacher. Of uncertain derivation; probably a figured mantle for holidays --
stomacher. 6613, 6614. pethigil. 6615 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6614.htm - 6k

The Holidays at Thagaste
... SAINT AUGUSTIN VI THE HOLIDAYS AT THAGASTE. In the city of Apuleius, the
Christian Monnica's son became simply a pagan. He was near ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/vi the holidays at thagaste.htm

Argument: the Arrival of Octavius at Rome During the Time of the ...
... Chapter II."Argument: The Arrival of Octavius at Rome During the Time of
the Public Holidays Was Very Agreeable to Minucius. Both ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter ii argument the arrival of.htm

Off Duty
... so desire. How did Kate Lee take her holidays? What ... moment, dropped? 'Tell
me about her holidays?' I asked of an old lieutenant. She ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/xiv off duty.htm

Mutual Help.
... One of these special dangers is bad company. You all have your holidays, and your
"days out," and you naturally look forward to them very eagerly. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lxiv mutual help.htm

Epistle xii. To Paschasius, Bishop of Neapolis (Naples).
... in Naples have complained to us, asserting that certain persons are endeavouring
unreasonably to drive them from certain solemnities of their holidays, so that ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xii to paschasius bishop.htm

Now this Masculine Love of an Open and Level Camaraderie is the ...
... Men are most themselves when they are free; and if I find that men are snobs in
their work but democrats on their holidays, I shall take the liberty to believe ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 14 now this masculine.htm

The Second Sermon, in the Afternoon.
... Do ye see nothing in our holidays? ... But what doth the people on these holidays?
Do they give themselves to godliness, or else ungodliness? ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/the second sermon in the.htm

Psalm XCIX.
... For we do not keep our own fasts in their holidays. Different are the fasts
which we celebrate through the days of the approaching ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcix.htm

Pauline Enters the Carmel
... required. Thursday was a holiday, but it was not like the holidays I had
under Pauline, which I generally spent upstairs with Papa. ...
/.../martin/the story of a soul/chapter iii pauline enters the.htm

Pauline Enters the Carmel
... required. Thursday was a holiday, but it was not like the holidays I had
under Pauline, which I generally spent upstairs with Papa. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/chapter iii - pauline enters.htm

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