A Comparison of Holy Day Schedules
The "astronomical" column below shows God's feast days according to actual astronomical cycles of the earth, moon and sun.
The "Jewish Cal." column shows the feast days as scheduled by the Jewish calculated calendar which are based on "mean" data, with a cumulative error in the lengths of the solar and lunar year, and regular "postponements" based on ritual and tradition.
The various divisions of Judaism (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, etc.) observe numerous non-Biblical "feasts" or "holy days". The charts below show only those "holy days" as given by God in the books of Moses. A table at the bottom shows the names of these feast days as identified in scripture and their corresponding Jewish names.
The "CoG" column shows the feast days as scheduled by the majority of the churches of God using a modified form of the Jewish calculated calendar, and which makes exceptions to some of the Jewish calendar rules.
By "churches of God", we mean those ex-Worldwide groups which still observe the WCG tradition of a modified Jewish calendar.We have included the dates of equinox, conjunction, and 1st day of the 1st month (none of which are holy days), to show the relationship of the feast days to the astronomical events. The conjunction given is the one that occurs closest to the equinox. This always allows Passover to be "in season" (Ex. 13:10, Palestine's spring), and the "fall" feasts to be "in the end of the year" (Ex. 23:16, nearest the fall equinox) rather than a month later as often occurs using the Jewish calculated calendar (see 1997 and 2000 below).
After calculation became a prominent factor in determining the feast days (4th - 8th cent. AD), it forced the issue of a pre-calculated intercalation, allowing for a 13th lunar month occasionally. At some point, it became a tradition that the entire month of Abib be "in season" rather than keeping "it (Passover) in his appointed season" (Num. 9:2). This tradition, combined with the calculated calendar's cumulative rate of error, now causes the feast days to be a month late according to the seasons, by the Jewish scholars' own reckoning.
Some differences in the schedules will vary, others will be consistent. Most if not all the churches of God observe Passover on the evening of the 13th/14th, instead of the 14th/15th as scripture shows and as the Jews observe.
The churches of God count Pentecost from the day after a weekly Sabbath instead of the day after the 1st Sabbath of Unleavened Bread as scripture shows and as the Jews do. However, Pentecost for the Jews will always be Sivan 6, since they "fix" the lengths of the months 1 through 7 for the convenience of calendar calculations and ignore the actual lengths of the lunar months.UT - Universal Time, or UTC, sometimes referred to, now colloquially, as "Greenwich Mean Time" (abbreviated GMT).
% illum. = percent of moon illuminated, as visible from earth.
(2nd day) = consecutive day of illumination1997
1997 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20,
1:55pm UTConjunction Mar. 9,
1:15 am UT1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 10,
1% illuminationApr. 8, 0% illum. Apr. 8, 0% illum. Passover sunset, Mar. 23 Apr. 22 sunset, Apr.20 Unleavened Bread Mar. 24-30 Apr. 22-28 Apr. 22-28 Pentecost May 13 June 11 June 15 7th lunar conjunction Sept. 1,
11:52 pm, UT1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 3,
1% illum.Oct. 2, 0% illum. Oct. 2, 0% illum. Atonement Sept. 12 Oct. 11 Oct. 11 Tabernacles Sept. 17-23 Oct. 16-22 Oct. 16-22 Last Great Day Sept. 24 Oct 23 Oct. 23 Fall Equinox Sept. 22 2000
2000 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20,
7:35 am, UTConjunction Mar. 6,
5:17 pm UT1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 7,
1% illum.Apr. 6, 2% illum. Apr. 6, 2% illum. Passover sunset, Mar. 20 Apr. 20 sunset, Apr. 18 Unleavened Bread Mar. 21-27 Apr. 20-26 Apr. 20-26 Pentecost May 10 June 9 June 11 7th conjunction Aug. 29, 10:19 am, UT 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Aug. 30,
1% illum.Sept. 30, 6% illum. (2nd day) Sept. 30, 6% illum. (2nd day) Atonement Sept. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Tabernacles Sept. 14-20 Oct. 14-20 Oct. 14-20 Last Great Day Sept. 21 Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Fall Equinox Sept 22 2005
2005 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 12:34 pm, UT Conjunction Mar. 10, 9:10 am, UT 1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 11,
1% illum.Apr. 10,
2% illum.Passover sunset, Mar. 24 Apr. 24 sunset, Apr. 22 Unleavened Bread Mar. 25-31 Apr. 24-30 Apr. 24-30 Pentecost May 13 June 13 June 12 7th conjunction Sept. 3,
6:45 pm, UT1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 4,
1% illum.Oct. 4, 0% illum. Oct. 4, 0% illum. Atonement Sept. 13 Oct. 13 Oct. 13 Tabernacles Sept. 18-24 Oct. 18-24 Oct. 18-24 Last Great Day Sept. 25 Oct. 25 Oct. 25 Fall Equinox Sept. 22 % illum. = percent of moon illuminated, as visible from earth, at previous sunset of day given. Example: Mar. 20, 1% = 1% of illumination at sunset on March 19 which is the (Biblical ["at even(ing)"] beginning of the 20th day on the Roman calendar on your wall).
2007 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 21, 12:07 am, UT Conjunction Mar. 19, 2:43 am, UT 1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 20, 1% illum. Mar. 20 Mar. 20, 1% illum. Passover sunset Apr.2 Apr.3, 4 - 9, 10 sunset, Apr. 1 Unleavened Bread Apr.3-9 Apr. 3-9 Pentecost May 23 May 23-24 May 27 7th conjunction Sept. 11, 12:44 pm, UT 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 13, 2% illum. Sept. 13-14 Sept. 13,
2% illum.Atonement Sept. 22 Sept. 22 Sept. 22 Tabernacles Sept. 27-Oct. 3 Sept. 27, 28 -Oct. 3 Sept. 27-Oct. 3 Last Great Day Oct. 4 Oct. 4-5 Oct. 4 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 9:51 am, UT Note: For the Orthodox Jewish calendar outside of Israel, Holy Days where work is forbidden are observed on two consecutive days. Inside Israel, only one day is observed. This is a "Jewish tradition" that was established when it became difficult for news of the "observed" days to reach areas distant from Jerusalem. The charts from 2007 forward, show the Diaspora (outside of Israel) Jewish calendar. For Shavuot or Pentecost, the 50 days are still counted from the day after the first Day of Unleavened Bread, even when that day is observed for two days. The result is an observance of two days for Pentecost or Shavuot. The observance of one or two days varies among Jewish groups. Reform synagogues outside of Israel do not observe double Holy Days.
Using the Orthodox Diaspora calendar, Passover begins with Pesach I and Pesach II and ends with Pesach VII, Pesach VIII. Pentecost becomes Shavuot I and Shavuot II. Trumpets is Roshana 5768 (= 2007 or current year) and Roshana II. The Feast of Tabernacles begins with Sukkot I and Sukkot II and ends with Shimini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. No Jewish groups observe two days for Yom Kippur (Atonement) even though it is a day in which work is forbidden.
2008 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 5:48 am, UT Conjunction Mar. 7, 5:14 pm, UT 1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 9, 2% illum. Apr. 6 Apr. 6, 0% illum. Passover sunset, Mar. 22 Apr. 20, 21 - 26, 27 sunset, Apr. 18 Unleavened Bread Mar. 23-29 Apr. 20-26 Pentecost May 12 June 9-10 June 8 7th conjunction Aug. 30, 7:58 pm,UT 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 1, 2% illum.
Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Sept. 30,
0% illum.Atonement Sept. 10 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Tabernacles Sept. 15-21 Oct. 14,15- 20 Oct. 14-20 Last Great Day Sept. 22 Oct. 21-22 Oct. 21 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 3:44 pm, UT
2009 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 11:44 am, UT Conjunction Mar. 26, 4:06 pm, UT 1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 28, 2% illum. Mar. 26 Mar. 26, 1% illum. "waning" (prior to conjunction) Passover sunset Apr. 10 Apr. 9, 10 - 15, 16 sunset, Apr. 7 Unleavened Bread Apr. 11-17 Apr. 9-15 Pentecost May 31 May 29, 30 May 31 7th conjunction Sept. 18, 6:44 pm, UT 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 20, 2% illum. Sept. 19, 20 Sept. 19, 0% illum. Atonement Sept. 29 Sept. 28 Sept. 28 Tabernacles Oct. 4-10 Oct. 3, 4 - 9 Oct. 3-9 Last Great Day Oct. 11 Oct. 10,11 Oct. 10 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 9:18 pm, UT
2010 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 5:32 pm, UT Conjunction Mar. 15, 9:01 pm, UT 1st day, 1st mo. Mar. 17, 1% illum. Mar. 16 Mar. 16,
0% illum.Passover sunset Mar. 30 Mar. 30, 31 - Apr. 5, 6 sunset, Mar. 28 Unleavened Bread Mar. 31-Apr. 6 Mar. 30-Apr. 5 Pentecost May 20 May 19, 20 May 23 7th conjunction Sept. 8, 10:30 am, UT 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 10, 4% illum. Sept. 9, 10 Sept. 9,
0% illum.Atonement Sept. 19 Sept. 18 Sept. 18 Tabernacles Sept. 24-30 Sept. 23,24 - 29 Sept. 23-29 Last Great Day Oct. 1 Sept. 30, Oct. 1 Sept. 30 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 3:09 am, UT
2011 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 11:21 pm, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 19, 20 Unleavened Bread Pentecost Jun. 8, 9 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 29, 30 Atonement Oct. 8 Tabernacles Oct. 13,14 -19 Last Great Day Oct. 20, 21 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 9:04 am, UT
2012 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 5:14 am, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 7, 8 - 13,14 Unleavened Bread Pentecost May 27,28 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 17, 18 Atonement Sept. 26 Tabernacles Oct. 1,2 -7 Last Great Day Oct. 8, 9 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 2:49 pm, UT
2013 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 11:02 am, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Mar. 26, 27 - Apr. 1, 2 Unleavened Bread Pentecost May 15, 16 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 5, 6 Atonement Sept. 14 Tabernacles Sept.19, 20 - 25 Last Great Day Sept. 26, 27 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 8:44 pm, UT
2014 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 4:57 pm, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 15, 16 - 21,22 Unleavened Bread Pentecost June 4, 5 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 25, 26 Atonement Oct. 4 Tabernacles Oct. 9, 10 -15 Last Great Day Oct. 16, 17 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 2:29 am, UT
2015 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 10:45 pm, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 4,5 -10,11 Unleavened Bread Pentecost May 24, 25 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 14, 15 Atonement Sept. 23 Tabernacles Sept. 28,29 - Oct. 4 Last Great Day Oct. 5, 6 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 8:20 am, UT
2016 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 4:30 am, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 23, 24 - 29, 30 Unleavened Bread Pentecost Jun. 12, 13 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Oct. 3, 4 Atonement Oct. 12 Tabernacles Oct. 17, 18- 23 Last Great Day Oct. 24, 25 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 2:21 pm, UT
2017 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 10:28 am, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 11,12- 17, 18 Unleavened Bread Pentecost May 31 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 21,22 Atonement Sept. 30 Tabernacles Oct. 5, 6-11 Last Great Day Oct. 12, 13 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 8:02 pm, UT
2018 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 4:15 pm, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Mar.31, Apr. 1- 6, 7 Unleavened Bread Pentecost May 20-21 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 10-11 Atonement Sept. 19 Tabernacles Sept. 24, 25 -30 Last Great Day Oct. 1, 2 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 1:54 am, UT
2019 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 9:58 pm, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 20, 21 - 26, 27 Unleavened Bread Pentecost June 9, 10 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 30, Oct. 1 Atonement Oct. 9 Tabernacles Oct. 14, 15 - 20 Last Great Day Oct. 21, 22 Fall Equinox Sept. 23, 7:50 am, UT
2020 Astronomical Jewish Calendar Churches of God Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 3:49 am, UT Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 9, 10 -15, 16 Unleavened Bread Pentecost May 29, 30 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Sept. 19, 20 Atonement Sept. 28 Tabernacles Oct. 3, 4 - 9 Last Great Day Oct. 10, 11 Fall Equinox Sept. 22, 1:30 pm, UT
The Jewish calendar (with some exceptions) is the basis of calculation for the Churches of God that observe the annual Holy Days. Jewish scholars acknowledge that in some years (e.g. 1997, 2000, 2005, 2011?, 2014?, 2016? 2019?), the Holy Days are being observed a month late in relation to the seasons, which are based on the lunar cycle. This movement "out of season" will continue. By the year 3000 the spring feasts will be observed in Apr./May and the fall feasts will be observed in Oct./Nov. By the year 7005, the fall feast will be observed in Nov. and by 9996, the fall feast will end on Nov. 29, almost into Dec.
Jewish Calendar
Year 3004 A.D. 4000 A.D. 6001 A.D. Spring Equinox Mar. 20, 21
Conjunction 1st day, 1st mo. Passover Apr. 26,27 - May 2,3 May 2,3 - 8, 9 May 5,6 -11,12 Unleavened Bread Pentecost June 15, 16 June 21, 22 June 24, 25 7th conjunction 1st day, 7th mo. Trumpets Oct. 6, 7 Oct. 12, 13 Oct. 15,16 Atonement Oct. 15 Oct. 21 Oct. 24 Tabernacles Oct. 20,21- 26 Oct. 26,27 - Nov. 1 Oct. 29, 30 - Nov. 4 Last Great Day Oct. 27, 28 Nov. 2, 3 Nov. 5, 6 Fall Equinox Sept. 22-23
Jewish calendar dates to 2005 are from a Jewish web site, UEJL, Lausanne, Switzerland, at:
http://www.chez.com/uejl/e/calendar.htmlJewish calendar dates from 2007 on are from:
http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/
Percent of lunar illumination and other astronomical data is from the USNOAA web site at:
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/
The names of "my [God's] feasts" (Lev. 23):
Scripture Jewish Churches of God Lev. 23:1-3, (weekly, 7th day "sabbath" Shabbat, (considered more holy than a "feast day") Sabbath, (considered less holy than a "feast day" or "high day") Lev. 23:5 "passover"
Lev. 23:6-8 "feast of unleavened bread" (also known as "passover" since passover falls within the the seven days, Luke 22:1, Eze 45:21)
Pesach (observed for 7 days in Israel, for 8 days outside of Israel) Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread (observed beginning 24 hours after Passover) Lev. 23:15-16;
Acts 2:1 "pentecost"Ex. 34:22
"feast of weeks"Ex. 23:16 "feast of harvest, of firstfruits"
Shavuot Pentecost Lev. 23:24 "memorial of blowing of trumpets" Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year's)* Feast of Trumpets Lev. 23:27 "day of atonement" Yom Kippur Day of Atonement Lev. 23:34 "feast of tabernacles (booths, temporary dwellings)"
Ex. 23:16 "feast of ingathering"
Sukkot Feast of Tabernacles Lev. 23:36 "the eighth day"; John 7:37 "the last day, that great day of the feast" Shemini Atzeret The Last Great Day *Note: God identified and commanded the beginning of the year to the Israelites, and gave his feasts in relation to that month and day (Ex. 12:2, 13:4, 9:31, Lev. 23). "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you" (Ex. 12:2). In Judaism this month is still known as Abib. This day, Abib 1, is not a "feast" but is the divinely-given date from which all the feast days are counted.
Nevertheless, Judaism celebrates Rosh Hashanah as "New Year's Day", on the ecclesiastical 1st day of the 7th month. This date does not always correspond to the astronomical first day of the 7th lunar month.
Next Calendar Index
Copyright M.H. and G.H. 2001-2007. All rights reserved.
