Festivals & Seasons

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The Seven Mosaic Religious Festivals	Seasons^N2	Babylonian & Hebrew Sacred Calendar Number	Hebrew Civil Calendar Number	Length	Roman (Julian & Gregorian Equivalent)
14th. Feast of Passover (Exodus 12:14; 34:25; Leviticus 23:5). Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage with redemption through the blood of the slain lamb. About 3:00 p.m. on Nisan 14 the high priest would kill the first Passover lamb, by slitting its throat and allowing it to bleed to death. The Israelites would then eat the Passover Seder after sunset on the 15th, an annual Sabbath, as the new day began. 15th. Feast of Unleavened Bread and the 21st the unnamed feast of the last of the days of unleavened bread (Leviticus 23:6).(Exodus 12:15-20; 23:14-15; 34:18; Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:17). This festival, marked by two annual or chief Sabbaths (holydays), was of seven days duration, known as the days of unleavened bread, when the Israelites were to eat unleavened bread rather than leavened bread. The 1st and 7th days of the feast were annual Sabbaths or chief Sabbaths. On Sunday morning during the feast, the high priest offered the wave sheaf. This offering, the first of the first fruits of the early barley harvest, symbolized the dedication of the whole year’s crops (Leviticus 23:10-14). The Levitical priests always made this annual offering, known as the Omer, on Sunday morning. An omer was a Hebrew dry measure consisting of a tenth part of an ephah (an ephah was about a bushel). At present, in the tradition of Pharisaic Judaism, rabbis count the Omer from the second day of unleavened bread (from the day following Passover Sabbath not Sunday) but the priests did not do so anciently. The second annual Sabbath celebrates the Israelite crossing of the Red Sea on their way to the Land of promise.	Latter or Spring rains (Joel 2:23; Deuteronomy 11:14). Streams in flood (Joshua 3:15, cf I Chronicles 12:15; Jeremiah 12:5). Barley (Exodus 9:31), wheat, figs (Zechariah 10:1; Mark 11:13; Matthew 21:19) Apricots ripening.	I	7	30 days	Mar.-Apr.
14th. Second Passover or Little Passover (Numbers 9:10-11) for those who could not keep the first Passover.	Principal harvest month in lower districts (Ruth 1:22). Wheat begins to ripen.	II	8	29 days	Apr.-May
Feast of First Fruits or Pentecost (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:17, 23:20; Deuteronomy 16:9-10, 26:2, 26:10; Esther 8:9). Also called the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16; 34:22), Feast of Weeks (Numbers 28:26), later the day of Pentecost [count fifty] (Leviticus 23:15-21, 23:39; Acts 2:1). The 50th day reckoned from the morrow (Sunday) after the first weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Always on Sunday, dealt with the dedication of the early wheat harvest, the firstfruits, to God. Sanctify Israel and clean her anew for the season’s work and rejoicing. At present, but not anciently, Jews identify this feast with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and refer to it as the Revelation.	Summer begins. No rain until October. Heavy dews (Psalm 133:3; Hosea 6:4, 8:3, 14:5; Job 29:19; I Samuel 12:17; Proverbs 26:1)	III	9	30 days	May-Jun.
	Hot. Country parched and dry. Grapes begin to ripen	IV	10	29 days	Jun.-Jul.
	Intense heat. Principal fruit month: grapes, figs, olives, walnuts.	V	11	30 days	Jul.-Aug.
	Intense heat. General grape harvest (II Kings 4:18-20; Psalm 121:6, Isaiah 49:9-10, Revelation 7:16).	VI	12	29 days	Aug.-Sept.
1st. Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25; Numbers 29:1) A day for the blowing of trumpets. There is no emphasis on the fall Feast of Trumpets in the Torah or in the balance of the Hebrew Scriptures. It marks the beginning of the civil year. 10th. Feast of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-30, 23:27-28; Numbers 29:7). A day of fasting, where people were to remain in their homes and recall that their high priest was to enter into the Most Holy Place and to bring about their reconciliation with God. It is the only fast day of the seven feasts and annual Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:32 cf. Acts 27:9). 15th-21st. Feast of Tabernacles, or Ingathering. (Deuteronomy 16:13; Leviticus 23:34; Leviticus 23:36, 23:39; Numbers 29:12). Living in tents or temporary dwellings. Also Booths and the Feast of Ingathering, lasting seven days with the first an annual Sabbath (Leviticus 23:36, 23:39; Numbers 29:12). Now also called the Sukkot Festival, the Harvest Festival, and by some The Festival. Celebrated the completion of the great fall harvest at the close of the growing cycle with the people rejoicing for God’s blessings. Also Booths and the Feast of Ingathering, lasting seven days with the first an annual Sabbath. Now also called the Sukkot Festival, the Harvest Festival, and by some The Festival. 22nd. Feast of the Last Great Day (Leviticus 23:34-36, 23:39; Numbers 29:35; John 7:37). Marked the conclusion of the festival year. Now Jews celebrate this day as one of marking the end of the feasts and the close of the year-long cycle of Sabbath Torah readings.		VII	1	30 days	Sept.-Oct.
	Wheat and barley sown. Continued rain. Gathering of latter grapes; also olives.	VIII	2	29 or 30 days	Oct.-Nov.
	Winter begins (John 10:22). Snow on highlands.	IX	3	30 or 29 days	Nov.-Dec.
	Mid-winter. Coldest month. Rain, hail, snow (Joshua 10:11) on higher hills. Groves, pastures of the Jordan valley scarlet with anemones and poppies. Oranges ripening. Lower districts becoming green with corn.	X	4	29 days	Dec.-Jan.
	Weather becoming warmer. In sheltered localities almond and peach trees begin to blossom. Oranges ripe. Winter figs on leafless trees.	XI	5	30 days	Jan.-Feb.
	The latter rains begin on which, plenty or famine, the crops and pastures depend. Almond trees in blossom. Oranges and lemons in the lowlands.	XII	6	29 or 30 days	Feb.-Mar.
		XIII		29 days	Mar.-Apr.

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