Most people who observe the worldly holidays today have never really searched out for themselves the facts relating to this subject from their own Bible. Most people might be stunned and puzzled to learn that the first American Thanksgiving Day was never held late in the month of November by the Pilgrims who were reputed to have originated it. Historical facts tell us that the Pilgrims celebrated their first special thanksgiving feast in early October. This date would closely correspond to the time when the scriptural Feast of Tabernacles would be observed and it would correspond much more accurately with the New England fall harvest season.

Some of the people who have researched the subject of the American Thanksgiving Day believe that the Pilgrims actually were perpetuating the English custom of holding a harvest home observance. When the author was a youth, the denomination in which he was a member would observe a harvest home commemoration one day in the early fall. Whether this corresponded with the Feast of Tabernacles time, we cannot say, but it was held some weeks earlier than the American Thanksgiving time of year, the fourth Thursday of November.

Without a doubt, the American Thanksgiving Day is founded upon much the same premise as are the other holidays observed by nominal ch-rchianity. That belief is that mankind can determine for himself any observance he wishes, since we are now under grace and not under law. THE SUPERNATURALLY COMMANDED BIBLICAL HOLIDAYS ARE SPURNED, lightly cast aside, and regrettably others that are not sanctified by the Bible are substituted in their place. Then these unscriptural holidays are proof texted out of the sacred Scriptures, whereas, they are in reality the commandments and doctrines of men.

Yahshua the Messiah in Matthew 15:6b–9 warned against accepting such observances, "…And you have made void the word of Yahweh because of your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men."

In the sacred Scriptures, Almighty Yahweh has specified that there shall be two thanksgiving observances. These holy times of worship are designated as PILGRIM FEASTS, since travel is involved. The first one is designated as the early thanksgiving day, which is called Shavuoth, or Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks. "And you shall observe the feast of weeks, even of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the sovereign Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel." (Exodus 34:22-23).

Almighty Yahweh Himself has designated special seasons which shall be devoted to His worship in recognition for His blessings. For seven days, from the fifteenth to the twenty-first day of the seventh scriptural month, with a following eighth day, shall be set aside as a time of special worship. Each fall His people must gather in holy convocation. No human being can alter this commandment of his own volition, because Yahweh has established it.

Recently we saw a rather noted entertainer explain why he was observing Halloween (even though he was a professed Chr-stian). He rejected the idea that any paganism could be connected with children coming around to his door in outlandish costumes to practice the worldly tradition of trick-or-treating. We watched this explanation in stunned amazement, because this individual had been set forth to be a rather righteous, religious man. Nevertheless, he had not examined the facts of the Halloween traditions. Have you ever researched the traditions related to the worldly holidays to determine their origin? If not, why not?

Perhaps you also imagine that Almighty Yahweh will accept whatever worship you intend to give Him. However, just remember that Almighty Yahweh desires obedience to His commandments. We do not worship just any mighty one, but we worship the only true and living Elohim, our Creator, Yahweh. It is mandatory that we obey Him! "We must obey Yahweh rather than men." (Acts 5:29b). Will you join with us in this revival of Yahweh’s way of life?