Please note that I am NOT an expert on the BIBLE or on any of the BIBLICAL FEASTS, but I know others are feeling led to celebrate the FEASTS as we are, so I am just sharing what we have been learning. This post, like many of my posts, is a helpful reminder for myself and a place to put links that I might otherwise forget about.
Who should celebrate the Seven Biblical Feasts?
Well, that is a debate among many, and I have been doing TONS of research. During that research, I read somewhere that we are not commanded to celebrate them, but we are invited to celebrate them as Jesus did. How would you feel if you had invited someone to celebrate with you and they didn’t show up?
First and foremost, I would say that you need to pray and see if GOD is leading you to celebrate… you should pray about any big changes in direction before heading down a path that life may be leading you down.
Holy Days vs. Holidays
I have read some theories that Thanksgiving may have actually been based on the Sukkot Celebrations… it lasted three days while Sukkot lasts for seven, so there may be some truth to this. They both occur around harvest time, and Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration when it first started. The Pilgrims were well versed in the Bible and Hebrew, so they may have adopted this celebration as a time to remember all they had been through.
Why celebrate Sukkot?
Secondly, you should do your own research about Sukkot. Find out the who, the what, the when, the where. the why, and the how… all of it! Then you can decide if and how you want to celebrate it. You can start by reading through Leviticus 23.
As I mentioned before, we have already been invited, so I definitely want to celebrate… it would be rude to keep ignoring the invite, and if we don’t go, then HE might invite someone else in our place! This is an exciting time, and I want to show GOD how thankful we are for ALL that HE has blessed us with.
I also LOVE the idea of celebrating the birth of JESUS during this time and not letting HIM get lost in CHRISTMAS!
WHY NOT CELEBRATE?
I can’t think of any reason not to celebrate.
Everything to Know About the Feast of Tabernacles
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 KJV
Sukkot by aish.com
Some Bible versions actually replace ‘dwelt’ with tabernacled… Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. Another interesting tidbit I have learned is that Jesus may have actually been born around the season of the Sukkot, so many people choose to celebrate his birth during this time and not around the traditional December date… I like this idea! Read more about this HERE.
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How should we celebrate Sukkot?
Well, again, I have found some debate, but I think it is up to each individual and their family to choose how they will celebrate. Our family is not Jewish, so we don’t know the customs, but we do LOVE our GOD and we want to show our GRATITUDE towards him, so we will do the best we can. This is one of the most EXCITING FEASTS, so we definitely want to try to celebrate it.
Traditionally, families would construct a Sukkah or Tabernacle with an open top to live in for the duration of the feast. This site has some great tips for building a Sukkah.**.. it should have 3 ‘walls’ and a semi-covered roof… you want to be able to look up at the sky while you eat. Many people now opt for setting up tents or having a campout with family and friends. One idea that I liked is that you can ‘tent hop’ for different meals… how fun would that be?
Check out our Biblical Feasts Pinterest Board for More Ideas!
The Sukkah has special meaning and is an important part of the celebration, so you should try to include it in some form. We may set up a tent, but we will probably decorate our porch. We may even make a Sukkah from graham crackers… if I remember. You can also have the kids make a Sukkah with brown bags, popsicle sticks, Lincoln logs, Lego blocks, shoe boxes, or anything else laying around the house.
**This site also has printable blessings, if you’d like to use them. You can buy a ready-to-assemble Sukkah HERE.
I’ve also seen it mentioned that you should read through the book of Ecclesiastes during Sukkot. Even if you don’t read that book, a Bible Study may be a good idea. Here is a Scripture reading list I found:
Also, lots of singing and praising should be going on!
There are lots of crafts for kids to do as well! Here are some that we have found:
Easy DIY Sukkah Decorations (Budget and Eco-Friendly)
Easy DIY Happy Sukkot Fall Leaf Garland
Easy Fall Biblical Holiday Crafts for Kids (Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles)
DIY Pumpkin Candleholders for Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles Decoration
Feast of Tabernacles for Kids Printables!
Lulav and Etrog Coloring Page – more Sukkot-themed pages too!
Fall & Thanksgiving Themed Activities for Kids
This is also a time that many people will donate to a local group or charity to help the less fortunate.
Decorating for Sukkot can be as simple as your normal Fall Decor and maybe a pretty tablecloth,… think Thanksgiving, not Halloween. A lot of natural products like corn stalks, branches, and leaves are used to decorate the Sukkah. You can also use foods like pumpkins, gourds, apples, pears, pomegranates, squash, etc. There is a traditional decoration called ‘Lulav and Etrog‘ that you may want to look into getting or at least doing a craft to represent it.
You will use the Lulav and Etrog to shake in all directions, one at a time, and repeat:
Psalm 118: 25: Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
There are also many harvest-themed crafts you, or your kiddos, can make for decor… I’m sure Amazon has some too. You can use lights or candles as well for decorations… just practice safety precautions if using real flames. When we have a new celebration, I usually make decorations or make do with things we have, and then I can purchase things a little at a time after I have better knowledge of what we need.
Learn the meanings of the Lulav and Etrog HERE.
One thing I suggest is that you print out or write your plans and ideas…
Free Party Planning Printables!
It’s ok to start with simple plans or ideas… they often lead to the best memories. You can keep things simple, or maybe you will feel led to do more in the upcoming years… be sure to pray about it!
You can do all kinds of nature themed crafts like:
- Leaf Rubbings
- Pine Cone Birdfeeders
- Nature Collages
More ideas can be found here:
Buy Celebrating Biblical Feasts ** –This book has a reading plan, decorating ideas, menus, and so much more!
Holy Days – I LOVE this site!
Eight Days of Activities for the Feast of Tabernacles – This is FULL of IDEAS!
An Attitude of Gratitude: Sukkot for Christians
Things the Messiah Said During Sukkot
Yes, You Can Keep Sukkot This Year! – Awesome ideas for non-traditional ways to celebrate
20 Fun Ideas for the Fall Feasts
How Christians Can Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with Kids
The Ultimate Sukkot Celebration Guide – we will definitely be using this!
Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles as Christians This is a wonderful read!
What foods should we eat?
A lot of the research seems to point towards a multi-day Thanksgiving-style feast… we do have some suggestions on our Special Fall Meals Menu Plan.
There seems to be a lot of ‘stuffed meals’, soups and stews, cabbage, Campfire meals, and Pumpkin recipes in many of the menus that we have found. A weenie roast might even be an option. Definitely ask for help from your family if this time seems overwhelming, as Sukkot embodies the theme of unity, and we all need to come together as one to make this a special time of the year.
Biblical Feasts: A Sukkot Menu & Activities
Here are some other resources:
Sukkot Recipes from Chabad.org
Campfire Recipes for Tabernacles (Biblically Clean)
Sukkot Menus Filled With Stuffing
The Ultimate Sukkot Menu – all days included!
SUKKOT HOSTING TIPS: MEALS YOU CAN PREP NOW
Where do we celebrate Sukkot?
You can celebrate anywhere, but traditionally, you would live in a temporary shelter of some sort for the duration of the feast. We will probably try to use our back porch for eating, and try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We may even plan to have a night or two of stargazing. We might even try to homeschool out on the porch during this time period.
Stargazing Sukkot Party
There are lots of groups who get together for camping trips to celebrate this festival… check out your local groups!
When do we celebrate Sukkot?
This is a little tricky, as the dates change from year to year, but you can Google for the dates or check HERE. It is a FALL FESTIVAL, so it always happens in the FALL. It is traditionally a 7-day feast with no work allowed on the first two days, but not everyone can do that, so do the best you can until you can do better!
I hope this helps inspire you on your journey, as others have inspired me on mine. Will/do you celebrate Sukkot? If so, what are your favorite traditions or memories?
DON’T FORGET TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
God Bless!
You can read more about our Biblical Feast Journey HERE:
Transform Your Celebrations: Biblical vs. Traditional
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