Holidays or Holy Days: Sacred vs. Secular

Today, we’ll explore and expose the difference between holidays or holy days: sacred vs. secular. We believe this topic is very crucial for people to thoroughly understand sooner than later. We hope this to be an eye-opener, so keep reading until the end.

In the modern calendar, we’re surrounded by days of celebration, each with its own unique flair and tradition. But have you ever paused to ponder the difference between holidays and holy days? Let’s dive into this fascinating distinction, especially as we explore how holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween have roots in man-made customs and pagan traditions, while holy days, according to biblical accounts, are divinely ordained.

Holidays: A Tapestry of Human Traditions

Holidays, as we know them today, are a delightful mix of cultural, historical, and sometimes, commercial elements.

• Christmas, for instance, while celebrated by many as the birth of Yahshua, has origins deeply entrenched in pagan festivals like Saturnalia, a Roman celebration honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, which involved feasting, role reversals, and gift-giving. The date of December 25th was not biblically specified but chosen possibly to coincide with these existing winter solstice celebrations.

• Easter is another holiday with a rich tapestry of pagan roots. Named after Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility, whose symbols like the rabbit and egg are still prevalent today, Easter’s timing and many of its traditions have little direct connection to the resurrection of Yahshua but more to ancient spring festivals celebrating renewal and rebirth.

• Halloween, originally known as Samhain, is an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to blur. This holiday has evolved, incorporating Christian elements like All Saints’ Day but retains much of its spooky, pagan folklore.

• Valentine’s Day – many people also get caught up in the sentimental gestures, heart-shaped balloons, and sappy Hallmark cards to celebrate Valentine’s Day. They find themselves surrounded by a plethora of commercialized celebrations of love, such as chocolate hearts, teddy bears, and romantic getaways that drain their wallets.

Have you ever stopped to think about the origins of Valentine’s? While it’s often touted as a celebration of love and affection, the truth is that Valentine’s Day has its roots in ancient pagan traditions.

But here’s the main thing: there is no mention of Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine in the Bible. In fact, most Christian denominations don’t even celebrate his feast day. So, what gives? The answer lies in the pagan traditions that predated Christianity. The ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia in mid-February, which involved dark rituals and human sacrifices to purify and fertilize the city.

Let us all not forget that at its core, Valentine’s Day is a pagan tradition, and it’s a secular celebration, so don’t be deceived by its charade of human desire for connection, love, and affection!

So yes, these holidays have evolved over centuries, blending religious significance with secular festivities, often becoming more about community, commerce, and cultural identity than strict religious observance.

Holy Days: The Divine Commandments

Contrastingly, holy days, as described in the Bible, are not merely cultural or seasonal markers but are deeply sacred, divinely mandated observances aimed at spiritual reflection, worship, and adherence to Almighty Yahweh’s commandments.

• The Sabbath, for instance, is one of the oldest holy days, established in Genesis as a day of rest, separate from the work of the other six days. It’s not just a day off work but a sanctified time for spiritual rejuvenation and communion with Elohim.

• The Passover and other biblical festivals like the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the Day of Atonement are detailed in the Old Testament as times for remembering Yahweh’s interventions and laws, offering a framework for living in accordance with divine will.

• In the New Testament, while specific days are less prescribed, the principle of observing holy days remains, with teachings emphasizing spiritual practices over ritualistic observance of days (Galatians 4:10-11, Colossians 2:16-17).

These holy days are seen as timeless, meant to be observed by all generations, focusing on spiritual growth, remembrance, and obedience to Elohim’s directives rather than the celebration of human or natural cycles.

Celebrating with Awareness

Overall, understanding the distinction between holidays and holy days invites us to celebrate with a deeper awareness. While there’s joy in the festivities of holidays, recognizing their origins can enhance our appreciation or even critique of how we celebrate. Meanwhile, observing holy days can connect us to a spiritual practice that transcends time, offering peace, reflection, and a direct connection to the divine.

Whether you’re stringing lights for Christmas, hunting for Easter eggs, or carving pumpkins for Halloween, or whether you’re observing the Seventh-Day Sabbath, Passover, or any other biblical holy day, each celebration holds the potential for personal and communal enrichment.

Yes, the absolute key is to be aware that Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are celebrations connected to man-made customs and pagan traditions, whereas the Sabbath (7^th-day), Passover, or any other holy days mentioned here from the Bible hold the real sanctity and true spiritual enrichment. Choose holy days over secular holidays!

Let’s contemplate with both eyes open: one to the temporary and artificial festivities (holidays) of the moment and the other to the genuine sanctity and spirituality (holy days) that underpin our existence as human beings.