The term "holy day" is where we get the English word "holiday." But what exactly makes a day "holy"? Are we supposed to do specific things on holy days? Does the Bible require the observance of any particular holy days? First, let's make sure we understand the definition of "holy."
Defining Holiness
Before we can understand what holy days are, we must know what "holy" means. In the Bible, "holy" always means "set apart." We know that God is holy, good, and righteous, and, as believers, we are called to live holy lives (1 Peter 1:16). We aren't expected to be perfect, but we are expected to try to do better.
So what does this mean in reference to specific days being "holy"? Simply put, holy days have been "set apart" as times to worship and glorify God in specific ways.
Holy Days in the Bible
The Bible references eight days (or spans of days) to be set apart for various remembrances and refers to these events as "festivals" or "feasts." The holy days in the Bible include:
- Passover (see Exodus 11 and 12)
- The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:16-25; Deuteronomy 16:1-8)
- The Feast of First Fruits (Exodus 23:16-17)
- Pentecost (a.k.a Feast of Weeks) (Leviticus 23; Acts 2:1)
- The Feasts of Trumpets (a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah) (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1-6)
- The Feast Tabernacles (a.k.a. Feast of Booths and Sukkot) (Deuteronomy 16:16)
- Purim (Esther 9:26-32)
- Day of Atonement (a.k.a. Yom Kippur) (Leviticus 23:27-28)
Most of these holy days were celebrated throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. We can find a lot of symbolic parallels between some of these observances and the events surrounding Jesus. Just look at the circumstances of Passover! God was preparing His people to one day accept the truth of the final sacrifice that would save them from the punishment of sin.
Holy Days as Church Traditions
Over the centuries, various Christian churches have established new holy days as well some of the biblical ones. Today, we might refer to them as "holidays" rather than "holy days," but the sentiment is the same.
The main Christian holidays celebrated today are Christmas and Easter. Many churches also observe Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Day of Pentecost, and Advent.
Should Christians celebrate holy days?
“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
Whether Christians should celebrate holy days has been a point of debate for literally millennia. The apostle Paul wote about it in Romans 14. The main principle we can take away from that passage is that if you choose to celebrate holy days, that's totally fine. If you choose NOT to celebrate, that’s totally fine too. Whatever you decide, just make sure you're convinced it's right for you and you're choosing that way for the right reasons (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Holy days aside, let's remember that, as believers, we are called to be holy every day (1 Peter 1:16). This means being holy in our minds, relationships, and actions. When you think of it this way, every day can be a holy day if we're setting the day apart for the Lord. As Christians, we should place God at the forefront of our minds and the center of our lives, doing our best to make every day a day that is lived for Him.