Holidays

The word ‘holiday’ comes from an Old English word that means; holy day, consecrated day, religious anniversary, Sabbath. Many of the holiday celebrations of today are a continuation of long held family, ethnic and country traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. As a result holidays evoke a variety of memories and emotions in the heart and the mind of many people throughout the entire world. Although the specifics of these various holidays do differ, the origins may share similar inspirations or religious roots. As people have travelled and re-located throughout the centuries they have influenced and mingled their traditions with one another. A common trait that prevails with many holidays is that it brings people together to create an atmosphere of unity and rouse a sense of belonging to something bigger than one’s self. Yet, by the end of the twentieth-century many holidays in North America merely represented the time we have off from school and work.  As the meaning of the traditions diminish the holidays become more and more self-serving. Although there is still a remnant of biblical essence in some of today’s holidays, many aspects of the traditions are void of any substance that would yield the proper dedication and reverence to Father-YHWH. 

The Heavens and the Earth were specifically designed to impress upon us the sense of time and to accentuate specific points in time in order for YHWH to illuminate His purpose and will to Humanity. This is testified in Creation itself; (14) God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years, (15) and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” It was so.(Genesis 1:14-15). With this clear format established in Creation, Creator-YHWH is obviously the original designer of Time and Holidays. He utilizes time to highlight His points of interest in what we call holidays. Within the Time-Space-Matter confines of the universe, YHWH has splashed His spiritual attributes throughout Creation that we might awaken to His ‘nature’. 

As humans we are subject to the cyclical-rhythm of the earth which determines our relationship with the moon, the sun and the stars.  Upon this moving platform (Earth) we experience day and night, and the seasons they produce while also suppling the rudiments of physical-life that sustain us. Generally speaking, the more we live in harmony with these directives the more we benefit from the natural cycles of the universe. But more importantly they serve to arouse our spiritual-mind to go beyond the physical patterns in order to encounter the Pattern-Maker of this universe. These earthly patterns will help us to comprehend and hopefully embrace the directives (guiding-presence) of the Holy Spirit and ultimately embrace the patterns that result in Eternal-Life. Therefore, along with bringing people together with one another for the purpose of unity, YHWH’s holidays are intended to draw us closer to Him. When His holidays are reviewed in chronological order (Leviticus 23) they present the greatest story ever revealed to humanity, bar none. Here we find the heart of YHWH illustrated to us in graphic form and the profoundness of His love is made tangible to our limited and imperfect minds. There are no other holidays that can compare in stature to His holidays.

In many versions of the Bible the word ‘holiday’ is not used other than three or four times in the book of Ester. In general the English word ‘holiday’ can be used to represent some Hebrew words that are similar in meaning, yet it doesn’t always yield the desired effect. One of these Hebrew words is ‘moed’’ which is sometimes translated as ‘feast’. A concise definition of this word is; appointed place, appointed time, meeting. In Leviticus 23 the sequence of the seven Appointed-Times (plural moedim) of YHWH unfold in the context of the biblical calendar year which differs from the Gregorian calendar. ‘Moed’ indicates the deliberate timing and sequence of the holidays in which feasting is a part of, but, was never intended to be the main focus. Instead, the will of YHWH was permeating the pre-messianic, Hebrew culture. The observance of these holidays and the enacting of the rituals that accompanied them, served to copy, to pre-shadow and to mimic the substance of the spiritual realities that were to unfold during the Messianic-Age and beyond.

In the English language the words ‘holiday’ and ‘feast’ differ to some degree than how they are used in the biblical Hebrew language. Many holiday traditions have incorporated symbols and ceremonies that are clearly of pagan origin and often focus on sensual pleasures. These traditions are sometimes homogenized with YHWH's holidays and in many cases stain and even obscure YHWH’s original purpose. This not only adulterates the truth, but also serves to mock the truth. This destroys the sacred purpose of these words. It’s not that every non-biblical holiday is wrong or that they don’t have a valid meaning, rather they are often void of the spiritual exercise and vision contained within YHWH’s holidays.

In most cases the expression 'Appointed-Times' (moedim) will be used for the word ‘holiday’ throughout this WebSite. The intention is to help our mind behold the bigger picture of YHWH’s will and purpose that has been woven throughout Creation. The physical depiction of these holidays that were enacted under the guidelines of Torah (the Old Covenant) were abounding with spiritual truths that were waiting to unfold during the unveiling of the New Covenant. This is monumental because YHWH’s holidays are pointing to His ultimate purpose of saving our soul/spirit from the human destiny of eternal-condemnation. Yes, YHWH’s Appointed-Times have been deliberately arranged in a way to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation that is available to EveryOne through Yahoshua’s sacrifice.  

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