Holidays are times for celebration, but how does the Bible view them? Some holidays are rooted in faith, while others have secular origins. The Bible offers principles on what and how to celebrate. Let’s take a closer look at what Scripture says about the holidays we observe.
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What Does The Bible Say About celebrating holidays
Leviticus 23:1-2
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.'”
This verse highlights the importance of celebrating festivals and holidays that are appointed by the Lord. It emphasizes the significance of gathering together as a community and setting aside specific times to honor and worship God.
Celebrating holidays allows us to remember and reflect on God’s faithfulness and goodness throughout history. It also provides an opportunity for us to strengthen our relationships with family and friends, as we come together to rejoice in the blessings and provisions of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 16:15
“For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.”
This verse encourages us to celebrate and find joy in the festivals and holidays that are dedicated to the Lord. It reminds us that when we gather to honor God and acknowledge His provisions, He will bless the work of our hands and fill our hearts with complete joy.
By participating in festivals and holidays, we express our gratitude for God’s faithfulness and goodness in our lives. It is a time to celebrate His blessings, find renewed strength in His presence, and experience the joy that comes from being in a relationship with Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
This verse reminds us that there is a time and season for every activity in life, including celebrating and rejoicing. It acknowledges that there are moments designated for expressing joy and happiness through festivities and holidays.
Celebrating holidays allows us to embrace the different seasons of life, journeying through both times of sorrow and times of joy. It is during these times of celebration that we can find comfort, encouragement, and renewed hope, as we experience the fullness of God’s love and provision.
Psalms 100:1-2
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”
This verse encourages us to celebrate and worship the Lord with joy and gladness. It calls us to express our gratitude and praise to God through songs of worship, recognizing His greatness and faithfulness.
Celebrating holidays provides an opportunity for us to come before the Lord as a united community, lifting our voices in praise and adoration. It allows us to declare His goodness and declare His worthiness to be honored and exalted.
1 Chronicles 16:31
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’
This verse calls for all creation to rejoice and be glad in the Lord. It invites us to proclaim His reign and sovereignty not only within our community but also to the nations.
Celebrating holidays serves as a testimony to the world of God’s goodness and kingship. It is an opportunity for us to shine the light of His love and showcase the joy that comes from knowing and serving Him.
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
This verse reminds us that every day is a gift from the Lord, and we are called to rejoice and be glad in His presence. It encourages us to find reasons to celebrate and express joy in God’s provision and faithfulness.
Celebrating holidays allows us to intentionally set aside specific days to focus our hearts and minds on the goodness of the Lord. It serves as a reminder to continuously find joy in each day and be grateful for the blessings that come our way.
Proverbs 15:13
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”
This verse highlights the connection between happiness and a cheerful countenance. It illustrates that a joyful heart is reflected in the outward expressions of our emotions and demeanor.
Celebrating holidays provides an avenue for us to cultivate a happy heart and exude cheerfulness. It allows us to experience the fullness of God’s joy, which can ultimately bring brightness and encouragement to our own lives and the lives of those around us.
Psalms 149:3
“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.”
This verse encourages us to express our praise and worship to God through dance and music. It highlights the significance of joyfully engaging our bodies and talents as we celebrate and honor the Lord.
Celebrating holidays often entails times of worship through music and dance. These forms of expression allow us to connect with God on a deeper level, releasing our inhibitions and embracing the freedom to worship Him with all that we are.
Romans 14:6
“Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
This verse reminds us that our celebrations and observances of holidays should be done with a heart of gratitude and in honor of the Lord. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing that all we do is ultimately for His glory.
Celebrating holidays should be approached with reverence and a desire to offer our thanks and praise to God. It invites us to engage in these festivities with a heart of gratitude, acknowledging His presence and provision in our lives.
Colossians 2:16-17
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
This verse reminds us that celebrations and festivals, though significant, are merely shadows of the true reality found in Christ. It cautions against judging others based on their observances and emphasizes the ultimate importance of our relationship with Jesus.
While celebrating holidays is essential, it is vital to remember that our faith and salvation are not dependent on these observances. They serve as reminders and opportunities for us to draw near to God and grow in our understanding of His love and grace.
Ecclesiastes 9:7
“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
This verse encourages us to enjoy the festivities and celebrations with gladness and a joyful heart. It emphasizes that God has already approved and blessed our acts of celebration.
Celebrating holidays should be done in a manner that brings honor to God and reflects His love and goodness. It is an opportunity to appreciate the abundance of His blessings and express our gratitude with joyful hearts.
Esther 9:22
“…as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.”
This verse recounts a historical event in which the Jews experienced deliverance from their enemies. It describes how sorrow was transformed into joy and mourning into a day of celebration.
Celebrating holidays can serve as a reminder of the victories and deliverance we have experienced in our lives. It allows us to turn our sorrows into joy and collectively celebrate God’s faithfulness in overcoming challenges and providing us with reasons for rejoicing.
Psalms 30:11-12
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”
This verse describes the transformation that God can bring about in our lives, as He turns our sorrow into dancing and clothes us with joy. It speaks to the power of God’s love to heal and restore, allowing us to sing praises to Him.
Celebrating holidays provides an outlet for us to express our gratitude to God for the ways He has brought about healing and restoration in our lives. It is a time to proclaim His goodness and faithfulness, acknowledging the ways He has turned our sorrows into joy.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
This verse reassures us of God’s plans for our lives. It promises a future filled with hope and prosperity, as designed by the Lord Himself.
Celebrating holidays allows us to reflect on God’s plans and faithfulness. It is an opportunity to trust in His promises, even in the midst of challenges, and find hope in the knowledge that He is working all things together for our good.
Isaiah 25:9
“In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
This verse depicts a day of celebration and rejoicing in the salvation that comes from trusting in God. It proclaims that He is worthy of our trust and invites us to find joy in His saving grace.
Celebrating holidays allows us to declare our trust in God’s faithfulness and provision, finding true joy in the salvation He has offered through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a time to rejoice and be glad in the assurance of His love and grace.
Psalm 30:4
“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.”
This verse calls for the faithful to sing praises to the Lord, honoring His holy name through worship and adoration.
Celebrating holidays provides an opportunity for us to come together as a community of believers and lift our voices in praise. It allows us to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness, magnifying His holy name through joyful songs and expressions of worship.
Psalm 107:22
“Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”
This verse encourages us to offer thanksgiving to the Lord through sacrifices and songs of joy, declaring His mighty works in our lives.
Celebrating holidays offers us a platform to give thanks to God and bear witness to the ways He has worked in and through us. It is an opportunity to offer sacrifices of praise and testify to His faithfulness, inviting others to join us in joyful celebration.
Psalm 126:2-3
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
This verse speaks of the overflowing joy and gratitude that comes when the Lord does great things in our lives. It highlights the transformation that takes place when we experience His goodness.
Celebrating holidays allows us to exclaim the great things the Lord has done for us. It provides a platform for us to reflect on His blessings and testify to His faithfulness, prompting others to join in our joy and praise.
Psalm 81:1
“Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!”
This verse calls us to sing and shout for joy to God. It encourages us to express our jubilant praise to the One who is our strength and the God of our ancestors.
Celebrating holidays invites us to lift our voices in song and shout our praises to God. It fosters an environment of exuberant worship, where we can experience His presence and be filled with sheer joy in His mighty presence.
John 16:22
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
This verse assures us that though we may experience times of grief and sorrow, there will also be moments of rejoicing and lasting joy that no one can take away.
Celebrating holidays allows us to experience the joy that comes from knowing Christ and being assured of our eternal reunion with Him. It is a time to celebrate and hold fast to the promise that our sorrow will ultimately be turned into everlasting joy.
Psalm 96:11-12
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
This verse calls for all of creation to rejoice and be filled with gladness. It invites every living thing to join in jubilant celebration, honoring God’s glory.
Celebrating holidays extends beyond human involvement, as it includes the participation of nature itself. It reminds us that all of creation is designed to bring glory to God, and we should be mindful of this grandeur as we rejoice and find joy in His presence.
Psalm 33:1
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”
This verse emphasizes the righteousness of singing joyfully to the Lord and praises Him. It acknowledges that praising God is the rightful response of those who walk in uprightness.
Celebrating holidays provides an avenue for us to express our adoration and praise to God. It is fitting and appropriate to lift our voices in joyful worship, reflecting the righteousness and goodness of the One we worship.
1 Peter 1:8
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”
This verse speaks of the inexpressible and glorious joy that fills our hearts as believers, even in times when we do not physically see Jesus. It highlights the deep love and faith we have in Him.
Celebrating holidays offers us an opportunity to rejoice and experience an overwhelming sense of joy that transcends our earthly circumstances. It allows us to express our love for Christ and celebrate the hope we have in Him, even in the midst of the unseen.