THE SABBATH
Sabbath is a weekly day of rest or time of worship. It is observed differently in Judaism and Christianity and informs a similar occasion in several other faiths. Though many viewpoints and definitions have arisen over the millennia, most originate in the same textual tradition.
Sabbath in the Bible (as the verb shavath) is first mentioned in the Genesis creation narrative, where the seventh day is set aside as a day of rest and made holy by God (Gen. 2:2-3).
Observation and remembrance of Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (the fourth in the original Jewish, the Eastern Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions, the third in Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions). Most people who observe Biblical Sabbath regard it as having been instituted as a perpetual covenant for the people of Israel (Ex. 31:13-17 , Ex. 23:12 , Deut. 5:13-14), a rule that also applies to proselytes, and a sign respecting two events: the day during which God rested after having completed Creation in six days (Gen. 2:2-3 , Ex. 20:8-11), and God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt (Deut. 5:12-15).
The seventh day of the week, Saturday, as the day of rest and religious observance among Jews and some Christians. Ex. 20:8–11.
The first day of the week, Sunday, observed by most Christians in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ.
THE PASSOVER
Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance. Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel. The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery as told in the biblical Book of Exodus from chapters 1 to 15.
The origins of Passover lie in pre-Israelite spring celebrations of the first grain harvest and the births of the first lambs of the season.
Within a Jewish context, however, it celebrates God's great redemptive act at the time of the Exodus, leading the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt to freedom. Together with Shavuot (the Festival of Weeks) and Sukkot (The Festival of Booths), Pesach is one of the ancient Israelite pilgrimage festivals, during which adult males journeyed to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and bask in the divine presence. Passover lasts for seven days (eight days outside of Israel).
The first and last days of the holiday are days on which no work is permitted. Work is permitted on the intermediate days, referred to as Chol Ha-Mo’ed.
HARVEST FESTIVALS
Harvest is the gathering of things planted, a natural time of reaping in joy what has been produced during the year in an agricultral community. Jesus reflects the Bible's theological viewpoint on harvest when he enjoins believers to ask the "Lord of the harvest" for laborers (Matt 9:38). There were several harvest festivals, the most important being:
Pentecost: Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth").
Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world.
Feast of Tabernacles: is known as the Feast of Booths and Sukkot. The people built shelters of branches (called BOOTHS), as a reminder of the time when their ancestors had lived in tents in the desert before reaching Canaan. It was also called In-gathering. It was six months after passover, in mid-October, and celebrated the end of the vine and olive harvest.
PURIM
Purim the feast instituted, according to Esther (9:20–28), by Mordecai to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's plot to kill them. It is so called (Esth. 9:26) after the lots cast by Haman in order to determine the month in which the slaughter was to take place (Esth. 3:7).
Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
Atonement is a doctrine that describes how human beings can be reconciled to God. (OT) this was the most solemn of Israel's festivals. It was a day when the sin of the nation was confessed over a goat which was then sent into the desert (a visual aid of the carrying away of their sin). (NT) In Christian theology the atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which made possible the reconciliation between God and His creation.
THE FEAST OF DEDICATION
This feast is also know as Hanukkah and the Feast of Lights. It developed in the era of the Maccabees and celebrated the cleaning of the Temple after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes. The Feast of Dedication is observed on the 25th day of the ninth month. It was marked at night by blazing lights, one light for each of the eight days of the festival. A joyous festival was the feast of the dedication of the temple. The stories of the Maccabees brave fighting were recounted and the feast was a time for praising God for once again marvelously delivering the Israelites from the enemies.
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