Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the New Year. It isn’t a sleep deprived party into the wee hours of the morning. Rather, it is a feast that incorporates music and fellowship.
A friend of mine from college set up a Biblical Feasts group a while back. While I am not wanting to wade waters of legalism and become ensnared by those waves, I do want a more Christ-centered, devotion-oriented life. I want to be intentional.
Christmas and Easter are actually pagan in root. I still observe them but try to teach my kids about Christ rather than Santa, a bunny, and gifts galore. However, I still feel the season lacking. It is as if American consumerism has eclipsed the joy I am supposed to feel during the season. Try as I might, I get swept up in that whirlwind too.
Jewish holidays are not exempt from the hallmarks of marketing, but they do have years of history, all of it linking back to God, YWHW, not Roman and Greek gods. Hoping to reignite my faith’s passion, which I have sensed an urgency to do even more since the beginning of the Julian calendar when my friend Dominic died, aged 17, I decided to start incorporating these feast observances into mine and my family’s routine.
[Aside: I am pretty sure I perplex my husband dearly. I am much more charismatic and festival oriented than he is. He knew this, in part, prior to our union. I am sure he spends most of the day shaking his head though. He loves me, but I completely baffle him as well. I think he deserves a shout-out and moment of gratitude for me insisting on these manners. I can only hope and pray that he is growing closer to the Lord as I do through these rituals. Liturgy always encouraged and lifted my spirit more than it has for him though.]
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated through feasting, prayers, and a blowing of a shofar. I know my daughters will enjoy the shofar immensly. My gracious husband agreed that we could buy some kid shofars. I can’t contain my excitement enough!
As we prepare for this feast, and invite friends into our home to join us, please pray for us. Pray we would meditate and reflect on our sin of this past year, repent, and that we might press into Christ deeper and more abundantly this next year.
We breathe because he first breathed into us. May every sigh that breaks our lips be a song of praise to him.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps. 139:24
A Pilgrim's Chronicles 
I think this is a great idea and I’m excited to hear how your faith grows as you celebrate these feats and learn more about them. I wish I could join you for the upcoming one!
Thanks Jamie! Yom Kippur is 7 or so days after Rosh Hashannah. Yom Kippur will be a solemn day of repentance and reflection.
When Sukkot comes, you are welcome to join us on any of the nights. That holiday lasts for 8 days. Think Thanksgiving for 8 days! God is glorious indeed!
*Thanksgiving while camping in a temporary shelter* 🙂 Two of my favorite things. Yeah, God is good.