Page 118 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

“…The word "holiday" comes from the Old English word “HĀLIGDÆG.”
The word originally referred only to special religious days. The word is derived from the

notion of "Holy Day", and gradually evolved to its current form.” Wikipedia Encyclopedia

It is quite significant to see that the widely used term, “HOLIDAY” is a modern-day substitute for what
used to be limited to religious “HOLY DAYS”. Man began with God-given, religious Holy Days, but
over time turned them into something now called “Holidays” that are often other than reverent, God-
centered, God honoring themes of celebration.

Can you see that what are now being called “Holidays” are, in essence, replacements, substitutes
(perhaps counterfeits?) for what originally began with God as designated religious events called “Holy
Days”? What, or who we might ask, is behind this exchange of events? There is only one answer to
that question, it is Satan the deceiver:

“…ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD,
ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE AND POWER OF THE AIR,
THE SPIRIT WHO NOW WORKS IN THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE…”

Eph. 2:2

“OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED… “…THE GREAT DRAGON…
TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, THAT SERPENT OF OLD,

WHOSE MINDS CALLED THE DEVIL AND SATAN,
THE GOD OF THIS AGE WHO DECEIVES

HAS BLINDED…” THE WHOLE WORLD…”
2 Cor. 4:3-4 Rev. 12:9

“WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD,
AND THE WHOLE WORLD LIES UNDER THE SWAY OF THE WICKED ONE…

LITTLE CHILDREN, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS”
1 Jn. 5:19, 21

Holidays, in essence, are anniversaries. They are celebrations of some event deemed by man as
being worthy of remembrance. Holidays fall into the same category as birthdays and anniversaries.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. God’s Word instructs us:

}“RENDER… “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER...” Eph. 6:2
HONOR “HONOR ALL PEOPLE…HONOR THE KING.” 1 Pet. 2:17
TO WHOM “…HUSBANDS…GIVING HONOR TO THE WIFE...” 1 Pet. 3:7
“…HONOR WIDOWS WHO ARE REALLY WIDOWS...” 1 Tim. 5:3
HONOR
IS DUE.” “LET ELDERS WHO RULE WELL BE COUNTED WORTHY OF DOUBLE HONOR,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LABOR IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINE.” 1 Tim. 5:17
Rom. 13:7

We can see from the above examples of what the Scriptures single out as people or events that are
worthy of honor, worthy of remembrance, worthy of celebration. The overall qualifier is that we give
honor to whom honor is due, not honor to whom it is not due. Some people behave in such a manner
that they disqualify themselves from being worthy of honor. We have all heard of soldiers receiving a
“dishonorable discharge” due to their conduct.

What of Holidays? Are these modern-day substitutes for Holy Days “worthy of honor?” This is the core
question that we must answer as followers of Christ. Are we honoring things “worthy of honor” or are
we giving honor to things that should be considered unworthy of celebrating or bringing to
remembrance? Are we so enmeshed and ingrained into Satan’s subtle substitutes for God’s Holy Days
that we cannot (or will not) make a distinction between what is worthy of honor or dishonor? The world
is deceived by Satan-the god of this age, therefore they celebrate holidays created by him, but should
we as followers of Christ? I think Paul would give a resounding, “Certainly not!” as he often did to
preposterous concepts (Rom.6:2)

Let us now look at some of the origins of modern-day Holidays and see if we can determine if they are
worthy of honor or dishonor.