40 Bible Verses About Holidays

Holidays are special moments of rest, reflection, and gratitude. For Christians, they are opportunities to draw closer to God, spend time with loved ones, and celebrate His goodness. The Bible speaks often about rest days, feasts, and seasons of joy, all of which remind us to pause and honor the Lord. In this post, we’ll share 40 Bible verses about holidays, explore what Scripture says about celebrating them, and look at the seven holidays mentioned in the Bible.

What Does the Bible Say About Celebrating Holidays?

The Bible encourages believers to rejoice, give thanks, and commemorate God’s goodness. Throughout Scripture, God commanded His people to celebrate special feasts and days of remembrance. These were not just for fun, they were moments to honor God’s mighty works, provision, and salvation.

For instance, the Israelites celebrated Passover to remember their deliverance from Egypt. Christians today celebrate Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ and Easter to remember His resurrection.

However, the Bible also warns against turning holidays into times of idolatry, pride, or self-indulgence. Colossians 3:17 reminds us, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This means that every holiday should point back to God, not just ourselves.

When we look at Bible verses about holidays, we find that true celebration involves worship, gratitude, and love for others. God delights when His people rest and rejoice in His presence.

What Are the 7 Holidays in the Bible?

The Old Testament describes seven major feasts or holidays that God gave to Israel. These holy days were symbolic and pointed toward Christ’s redemptive work. Here are the 7 holidays in the Bible and their meanings:

Passover (Pesach): Celebrated the night the Israelites were delivered from Egypt (Exodus 12:1–28). It symbolizes Jesus as our Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
Feast of Unleavened Bread: Followed immediately after Passover and lasted seven days (Leviticus 23:6). It represented purity and separation from sin.
Feast of Firstfruits: Celebrated the first harvest (Leviticus 23:9–14). It prefigured the resurrection of Christ, the “firstfruits” of those raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): Celebrated fifty days after Passover (Leviticus 23:15–22). It represents the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church (Acts 2).
Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): A day of rest and trumpet blasts (Leviticus 23:23–25). It foreshadows the return of Christ.
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance (Leviticus 16). It symbolizes Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): A joyful celebration remembering Israel’s time in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:33–43). It points to God’s desire to dwell with His people eternally.

These festivals reveal God’s plan of salvation and remind us that every holiday should honor His goodness.

40 Powerful Bible Verses About Holidays

Here are 40 Bible verses about holidays to help you celebrate with faith and gratitude. These Scriptures will remind you to give thanks, find rest, and keep God at the center of every festive season.

Exodus 12:14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever.”
Leviticus 23:4 “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.”
Deuteronomy 16:15 “For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.”
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Colossians 2:16-17 “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”
1 Corinthians 5:8 “Therefore let us keep the festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Exodus 23:16 “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.”
Deuteronomy 16:1 “Observe the month of Aviv and celebrate the Passover of the Lord your God, because in the month of Aviv he brought you out of Egypt by night.”
Romans 14:5 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
Psalm 95:2 “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”
Ecclesiastes 3:13 “That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil, this is the gift of God.”
John 10:22-23 “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.”
Luke 2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.’”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Isaiah 58:13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, you will find joy in the Lord.”
Exodus 34:22 “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year.”
Leviticus 23:39 “So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days.”
Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”
Psalm 81:1-3 “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.”
Exodus 20:8-10 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
Mark 2:27 “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’”
Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.”
Zechariah 14:16 “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.”
John 7:37 “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.’”
Psalm 47:1 “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”
Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.”
Revelation 19:9 “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”
Exodus 13:3 “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand.”
Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
Matthew 2:11 “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
Isaiah 25:9 “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.”
Numbers 10:10 “At your times of rejoicing, your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts, you are to sound the trumpets over your offerings.”
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”
Exodus 31:15 “For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest, holy to the Lord.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Psalm 103:2 “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”

How to Celebrate Holidays in a Godly Way

Here is how you can celebrate holidays in a godly way;

Keep Christ at the center: Every holiday should glorify God and reflect His goodness.
Rest and reflect: Holidays are opportunities to pause, pray, and thank God for His blessings.
Give to others: Share joy through acts of kindness and generosity.
Worship with your family: Use holidays to strengthen your faith together.

When we celebrate according to biblical principles, holidays become holy days, times of renewal, gratitude, and joy in the Lord.

Conclusion

As we meditate on these Bible verses about holidays, one truth stands out, God desires us to rest, rejoice, and remember His goodness. Every celebration, whether it’s Christmas, Easter, or a personal thanksgiving day, should be centered on Him.

When we dedicate our holidays to God, we invite His presence into our gatherings, our meals, and our hearts. Whether it’s a Sabbath rest, a national celebration, or a personal moment of gratitude, let each holiday be an offering of praise to the One who gives us life and joy.