Two things need to be noted with regard to the holy days. One, according to the Hebraic reckoning of time, days begin in the evening, going from sundown to sundown. This is taken from Genesis during the creation when “the evening and the morning were the first day”. Second thing is that the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar (based on the moon cycles), as opposed to our current solar calendar (based on the sun cycles). Because of that, holy days fall on different days every year.
We’ll begin with an overview of HaMoedim (the appointed times) that Yahweh commanded Israel to observe. They include:
Weekly
Shabbat (Sabbath). Time of observance: every 7th day of the week, from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday evening. (Sunday is the 1st day of the week, not the 7th.)
Monthly
Rosh Chodesh (New Moon). Time of observance: the 1st day of every Hebrew month. It’s interesting to note that many times when the Word of Yahweh came unto the prophets, it happened “…in [whatever] month, in the first day of the month.” This “first day” of the month is the new moon. Yahweh isn’t random about the time frames He moves in. So when a pattern emerges, something significant is being shown.
To check out what phase of the moon we’re in at any given time, go to: http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html.
Yearly
Pesach (Passover). Time of observance: spring, Nisan/Aviv 14.
Hag HaMatzah (Feast of Unleaved Bread). Time of observance: spring, Nisan/Aviv 15-21.
Bikkurim (First Fruits of the Barley Harvest). Time of observance: spring, the morrow after the Sabbath during Hag HaMatzah.
Shavuot (Feast of Weeks/Pentecost). Time of observance: late spring, fifty days from the Feast of First Fruits.
Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets or Rosh HaShanah). Time of observance: early fall, Tishrei 1.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Time of observance: early fall, Tishrei 10.
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles or Booths). Time of observance: early fall, Tishrei 15-21.
