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Jewish Feasts and Festivals – The Short Version

Notey-Note that I did not know: Hanukkah is not in Mosaic law.

Feast / FestivalMosaic Law?In the NT?Jesus Observed It?Observed Today?When Today?What Is It About?Key Scripture
Passover✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ YesMarch/AprilIsrael’s deliverance from Egypt and the Passover lambExodus 12:1–28
Unleavened Bread✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ YesMarch/AprilSeven days without leaven, remembering Israel’s hurried departure from EgyptLeviticus 23:6–8
Firstfruits✅ Yes✅ Yes➖ Not recorded⚠️ Not generally separateMarch/AprilOffering the first of the harvest to GodLeviticus 23:9–14
Weeks / Pentecost✅ Yes✅ Yes➖ Not recorded✅ YesMay/JuneCelebration of the wheat harvest; later associated in Judaism with the giving of the TorahLeviticus 23:15–21
Trumpets / Rosh Hashanah✅ Yes❌ No➖ Not recorded✅ YesSeptember/OctoberA sacred day announced by trumpet blasts; today celebrated as the Jewish New YearLeviticus 23:23–25
Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur✅ Yes✅ Yes➖ Not recorded✅ YesSeptember/OctoberAnnual day of atonement, repentance and cleansingLeviticus 16:29–34
Booths / Tabernacles / Sukkot✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ YesSeptember/OctoberRemembering Israel living in temporary shelters in the wildernessJohn 7:2–14
Purim❌ No❌ No➖ Not recorded✅ YesFebruary/MarchCelebrates the deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s plot in EstherEsther 9:20–28
Hanukkah / Feast of Dedication❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ YesNovember/DecemberCommemorates the rededication of the Temple after its desecrationJohn 10:22–23