# festival

## Definition:

In general, a festival is a celebration held by a community of people.

* The word for "festival" in the Old Testament literally means "appointed time."
* The festivals celebrated by the Israelites were specially appointed times or seasons that God had commanded them to observe.
* In some English translations, the word "feast" is used instead of festival because the celebrations included having a large meal together.
* There were several main festivals that the Israelites celebrated every year:

 * Passover
 * Festival of Unleavened Bread
 * Firstfruits
 * Festival of Weeks (Pentecost)
 * Festival of Trumpets
 * Day of Atonement
 * Festival of Shelters

* The purpose of these festivals was to thank God and to remember the amazing things he had done to rescue, protect, and provide for his people.
* A person who "celebrates" acts as if he were at a festival.

(See also: [feast](../other/feast.md))

## Picture of a Festival:

<a href="https://content.bibletranslationtools.org/WycliffeAssociates/en_tw/raw/branch/master/PNGs/f/Festival.png"><img src="https://content.bibletranslationtools.org/WycliffeAssociates/en_tw/raw/branch/master/PNGs/f/Festival.png" ></a>

## Bible References:

* [1 Chronicles 23:31](rc://en/tn/help/1ch/23/31)
* [2 Chronicles 08:13](rc://en/tn/help/2ch/08/13)
* [Exodus 05:01](rc://en/tn/help/exo/05/01)
* [John 04:45](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/04/45)
* [Luke 22:01](rc://en/tn/help/luk/22/01)

## Word Data:

* Strong's: H1974, H2166, H2282, H2287, H6213, H4150, H8057, G1456, G1858, G1859

## Forms Found in the English ULB:

festival, festivals


