# 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.
* The word "feast" is used in several English translations 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.