Some Christian groups incorporate Jewish holidays into their religious practice, typically altering and reinterpreting their observation to suit a supersessionist theology.
Supporters point to the Jewish roots of Jesus, and to the tradition that he and the Apostles observed Jewish holidays.Matthew 26:17, John 5:1, John 7:4, 37, 10:22, 11:56, 12:12, 13:1, 29., , Though some early Christian sects like the Jewish Christian did maintain elements of Judaism, the phenomenon is modern, originating in 20th century Evangelical movements like Hebrew Roots, Messianic Judaism, and Armstrongism.
Many of the Jewish practices appropriated by these groups originated in modern rabbinic Judaism, long postdating early Christianity. Such Christian observances have been described by some as an offensive form of cultural appropriation and a misinterpretation of Jewish traditions. Within Christianity, critics question the practice's theological consistency and its potential to harm interfaith relationships.
Background
Specific practices vary among denominations: these holidays may be honored in their original form in recognition of Christianity's Jewish roots or altered to suit Christian theology. Symbolic and thematic features of Jewish services are commonly interpreted in a Christian light: for example, the Paschal Lamb of the Passover Seder is viewed as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice.
As a group these Christians form non-denominational alliances such as Christians for Israel and Christians United for Israel; they also form the root of a global, cross-denominational movement called Messianic Judaism, and of its offshoot known as Hebrew Roots.
A small number of Christian denominations — including the Messianic Jews, some congregations of the Church of God (Seventh Day), the World Mission Society Church of God, Hebrew Roots, Pentecostals and a variety of Church of God groups instruct their members to observe the religious holidays described in the Tanakh, but interpreted, they believe, in the light of the New Testament. Some Seventh-day Adventists have also adopted the Jewish holidays against the wishes of the denominational leaders. Most of these denominations also eschew the observance of Christmas and Easter, believing them to be later, pagan corruptions.
Most point to the tradition that Jesus's parents kept God's holy days, that Jesus himself kept God's holy days during his ministry,Matthew 26:17, John 5:1, John 7:4, 37, 10:22, 11:56, 12:12, 13:1, 29, and that the Apostles observed the same feasts after they were called "Christians".[, ,] The Book of Acts chapter 2 records that the start of the Christian Church began on a biblical feast day: "And when the day of Pentecost has fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
Many of these Christians believe that the intended purpose of all of the biblical holy days is to foreshadow or point to the identity of the Messiah, citing that Paul the Apostle confirms this view by linking Jesus' sacrifice to the fulfilment of the Jewish feast of Passover. Jesus was not only declared the "Lamb of God" by John the Baptist, a reference to the Passover lamb but was also presented as the Lamb in Jerusalem on 10 Nisan, then four days later crucified on precisely the day Jews brought the Passover sacrifice, 14 Nisan.
Christian Passover It is not common for mainstream Christians to celebrate Passover. Some regard Passover as superseded by Easter and the Passover lamb as supplanted by the Eucharist. But there are Christian groups, Messianic Jews, Hebrew Roots, and some congregations of the Church of God (Seventh Day), that celebrate some parts of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
As well, there are mainstream Christians from historic liturgical traditions (i.e., Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, etc.), who celebrate the Passover Seder in order to provide historical and cultural background for Maundy Thursday, part of the Paschal Triduum, during Holy Week., and some Christians eat lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Others follow the instructions (; ; ) that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper before he was crucified, and share bread (usually unleavened) and wine instead of roasted lamb. In some versions, the ceremony is combined with washing one another's feet, as Jesus did for his disciples the night that he suffered ().
The main Christian view seems to present the Passover meal, which was held on the night before Jesus died, also named Last Supper, as the Evening of New Covenant. The Christian view also seems to present the Day of First Fruit, which was held according to Jewish law on the day after Saturday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as Resurrection Sunday (also known as Easter). Christian Passover is a religious observance celebrated by a small number of 1st-century believers instead of, or alongside, the more common Christian holy day and festival of Easter. The redemption from the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of Christ is celebrated, a parallel of the Jewish Passover's celebration of redemption from bondage in the land of Egypt.
Mar Thoma Christians of India celebrate a version of Passover on Maundy Thursday, called pesaha appam. It is particularly common among the endogamous subgroup the Knanaya.
Christian Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
The traditional Christian holiday of Pentecost is based on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot celebrated seven weeks after the start of Passover. Pentecost is part of the Movable Cycle of the ecclesiastical year. Pentecost is always seven weeks after the day after the Sabbath day which always occurs during the feast of unleavened bread. Rabbinic Jews avoid celebration of Shavuot on the day after the Sabbath (the first day of the week). However, Haymanot and Karaite Jews celebrate this holy day according to Scriptural mandate on the day after the Sabbath. This Sunday celebration, in Christian tradition, is calculated as 50 days after Easter (inclusive of Easter Day). In other words, it falls on the eighth Sunday, counting Easter Day.
Pentecost celebrates the birth of the Church, when thousands of Jews were in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot, and heard Peter and the disciples speaking in their own language. However, Shavuot is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals laid out for the Torah observant Jews, which was the reason for the huge gathering of Jewish believers in Jerusalem on that same day.
Christian Feast of Trumpets Rosh Hashanah is celebrated by a number of Christian denominations and unincorporated house church groups within the United States, including: Messianic Jews, some congregations of the Church of God (Seventh Day), some evangelical Protestant churches (mainly Baptist), as well as Seventh Day Pentecostals in Eastern Europe. This day of resounding is also known in Judaism by the name "Yom Teruah" and in Christianity as the Feast of Trumpets.
Christian believers connect hearing "the sound of the trumpet" or shofar, according to the First Epistle to the Thessalonians and the Book of Revelation, with the events that occur at the resurrection of the dead ("For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first." , ).
Some say this "pivotal event of all human history to which the Feast of Trumpets points is the Return of Christ". Some evangelical television channels call Rosh Hashanna eve the "Feast of Trumpets", for example at CBN TV that marks the Jewish New Year with a staff gathering for Rosh Hashanah.
Latter Day Saint movement Joseph Smith is said to have received the golden plates (which became The Book of Mormon) on the Rosh Hashanah on 22 September 1827. Biblical references and interpretation by Jewish sages through the centuries set this day as the day God would remember his covenants with Israel to bring them back from exile. On this day ritual trumpet blasts signify the issuance of revelation and a call for Israel to gather for God's word of redemption. Set at the time of Israel's final agricultural harvest, the day also symbolizes the Lord's final harvest of souls.McConkie, Promised Messiah, 432-37; Read, "Symbols of the Harvest," 35-36. Furthermore, it initiates the completion of the Lord's time periods, the Days of Awe, and signifies the last time to prepare for final judgment and the Messianic Age. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is said to be fulfilling such prophecies of the day.
Christian Day of Atonement
It is not common for mainstream Christians to observe Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The New Testament refers to the Day of Atonement in ,F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts (NICOT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964), 506. but does not specify whether or not Christians were observing it."As the Day of Atonement was over, navigation was considered dangerous due to possible winter storms"
In the Roman calendar still observed by Traditionalist Catholics, the Michaelmas Ember days (the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of the first full week after 14 September (the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, or "Roodmas")) are penitential days inspired by the Jewish solemnities of the “seventh month,” Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי), especially Yom Kippur. Those days' first Lesson (liturgical reading) focuses on the Old Covenant’s Day of Atonement and the fast of the seventh month (Lev. 23, 26-32).
Assuming an apostolic practice of observing Yom Kippur, a small number of evangelical Christians observe it today. Among congregations of the Churches of God, the Day of Atonement is observed as an annual Sabbath where members fast in observance of Leviticus 23:27-29. Most, like Roderick C. Meredith, former leader of the Living Church of God, also believe that the Day of Atonement "pictures the binding of Satan at the beginning of the Millennium and the world becoming at one with God".Roderick C. Meredith, The Holy Days—God's Master Plan at www.tomorrowsworld.org. Children and those with medical conditions for whom fasting could be detrimental are not expected to participate.Editors of Beyond Today Magazine (2016, March–April), Questions and Answers, Beyond Today, p. 29. A publication of the United Church of God, an International Association.
Many groups affiliated with Messianic Judaism have provided instruction describing the evangelical significance for observance of this day.
One rationale for celebrating the Day of Atonement is that the Apostle Paul celebrated it and would not miss it during a storm on a ship. reads, "Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them".
Christian observances of Yom Kippur occur when a Christian-style Day of Atonement models itself on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
Roman Catholicism In the Roman calendar still observed by Traditionalist Catholics, the Michaelmas Ember days (the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of the first full week after 14 September (the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, or "Roodmas") are penitential days inspired by the Jewish solemnities of the “seventh month,” Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי), especially Yom Kippur. Those days' first Lesson (liturgical reading) focuses on the Old Covenant’s Day of Atonement and the fast of the seventh month (Lev. 23, 26-32).
Sabbatarian churches