Who Determines What Is Holy: God or Man?
Throughout the Scriptures, God established holy days, appointed times, and observances for His people. These occasions served important purposes, including remembrance, worship, instruction, obedience, and passing God's teachings from one generation to the next.
Today, Christians also celebrate holidays such as Christmas and Easter, while others choose not to participate. Some traditions are widely accepted, while their biblical foundations and historical origins are rarely examined.
But what does Scripture actually teach?
Examining Holidays Through Scripture and History
At Are Holidays Holy?, we investigate the differences between God-appointed holy days and human-established religious holidays.
We examine the Scriptures, explore historical evidence, consider competing explanations, and distinguish well-supported facts from popular claims that may be misleading or incorrect.
Our purpose is not to shame people for celebrating holidays or condemn those who choose not to.
We want to encourage thoughtful examination, respect for individual decisions, and greater understanding among families and fellow believers.
"You deserve the opportunity to examine the evidence and reach your own conclusions, without pressure, ridicule, or fear of rejection."
Were God's Holy Days Established for a Purpose?
Scripture describes appointed times that served purposes extending beyond religious ceremony.
These observances could help God's people remember His works, honor Him, teach their children, and preserve important truths across generations.
Some commemorate events of the past. Others invite reflection on present responsibilities or raise questions about future promises.
As people grow from childhood into adulthood, marriage, parenthood, and later generations, recurring occasions of remembrance and worship can take on deeper personal significance.
This raises important questions:
- 1Why did God establish particular appointed times?
- 2What were His people supposed to remember?
- 3How were these observances intended to teach future generations?
- 4Which biblical observances remain applicable to followers of Jesus today?
- 5How should these appointed times be compared with religious holidays established later?
The fact that Scripture establishes certain holy days does not, by itself, settle every question about their observance today. We intend to investigate those questions carefully.
A Careful Examination of Scripture, History, and Tradition
Our educational investigations are guided by principled research standards designed to build trust and pursue biblical truth with integrity.
Scripture First
We examine what Scripture explicitly teaches, what it commands, and what it does not say. Biblical authority is the benchmark for all truth.
Historical Evidence
We investigate the origins and development of religious celebrations using credible primary sources, patristic writings, and documented secular records.
Strong Evidence Over Popular Claims
Not every widely repeated claim is historically accurate. We intend to identify stronger arguments, examine weaker ones, and correct misconceptions.
Fair Consideration
We seek to understand meaningful competing explanations rather than dismiss them without examination, giving fair weight to different perspectives.
Respect for Conscience
We encourage people to examine the evidence without pressuring others into celebrating or abstaining. Conviction must be founded on truth and love.
Continuing Research
As new information becomes available, our investigations and educational resources may be expanded, clarified, or corrected in pursuit of accuracy.
The Twelve Days of Christmas: Twelve Questions Worth Asking
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated religious holidays in the world. For many families, it is a season of generosity, beautiful traditions, music, and cherished memories.
But important questions remain about its biblical foundation, historical origins, and relationship to honoring Jesus.
Why would a sincere follower of Jesus choose not to celebrate Christmas? Should Christians ever be pressured to participate? And what makes a religious celebration acceptable to God?
Video Series in Active Preparation
The series begins with a separate introductory video, followed by the twelve in-depth investigations below. Videos and resources will be released as our research and production schedules permit.
Scope of Investigation: Investigating what the New Testament requires for salvation and discipleship, and whether holiday participation is ever commanded or implied as a test of faith.
Christmas Is Only the Beginning
These subjects are planned areas of investigation, not promises of immediate publication. We expect our educational library to grow gradually as evidence is compiled and verified.
Easter and its Relationship to Passover
Investigating the timing, symbols, and biblical Passover observance vs. historical Easter developments.
Halloween and its Historical Traditions
Examining All Hallows' Eve, Samhain folklore, modern celebrations, and scriptural principles of discernment.
Valentine's Day & Widely Observed Holidays
Exploring the roots of Lupercalia, saint veneration, and cultural expectations surrounding popular holidays.
The Sabbath and God's Appointed Times
Studying the creation Sabbath, the fourth commandment, and perpetual memorials in the Scriptures.
Passover and Other Biblical Feast Days
Understanding Leviticus 23 holy days, their prophetic meaning, and their fulfillment in Jesus.
The Meaning of Paganism & Biblical Warnings
Scriptural warnings against adopting surrounding nations' practices when approaching the God of Israel.
The Purposes of Biblical Holy Days
Why God established set times for remembrance, education of children, and celebration of His covenant.
Religious Traditions, Commandments & Conscience
How believers can navigate family relationships, community customs, and personal walk with integrity.
A Lifetime of Faith. A Continuing Search for Truth.
We have followed Jesus since our youth. Now in our fifties, we find ourselves reflecting on decades of faith, personal experiences, biblical study, and questions that deserve thoughtful answers.
Along the way, we've come to recognize how easily religious traditions can become accepted without examining where they originated, what Scripture actually teaches, or whether they reflect what God intended.
Are Holidays Holy? grew out of our desire to share what we've learned, continue investigating what we don't yet understand, and encourage others to examine these questions for themselves.
We're not asking anyone to simply accept our conclusions. We invite you to consider the Scriptures, investigate the evidence, and make informed decisions about the traditions you observe.
Our hope is that this project will bring greater peace, love, joy, understanding, and respect among fellow believers and within families. Above all, we hope it encourages people to draw closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus, giving them honor, praise, and glory in all that we do, including faithfully observing what God has commanded in His Scriptures.
In peace and love,
Chad and Rebecca Cohrs
Are Holidays Holy? is an educational initiative associated with Knowing the Truth Ministries.
Follow Our Research as It Develops
Are Holidays Holy? is an evolving collection of biblical and historical investigations. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow our videos, and sign up through our website for occasional updates about new investigations, downloadable study materials, important research developments, and corrections.
AreHolidaysHoly.org will bring our research together in one place
Relying solely on YouTube or other video platforms makes it difficult to keep track of an investigation as it grows. Our website is being built to become the organized home for this work, where every investigation can be explored in order and in depth.
As our small team develops these resources, this site will bring together:
- Videos organized by investigation and subject
- Research updates and corrections
- Downloadable PDF study guides
- Infographics, diagrams, and timelines
- Questions and answers
- Additional educational resources as they are developed
Subscribing through our website is the best way to receive occasional, important updates as new investigations and resources take shape.
These resources are not available yet. They will be added gradually as our small team, balancing several ministry responsibilities, continues this work.
Stay Informed, Ask Questions, or Support Our Work
We welcome thoughtful questions, relevant Scriptures, credible historical evidence, suggestions, and respectful challenges to our research.
Because we are a small ministry team, we cannot guarantee an individual response or a particular response time.
Some questions may receive a direct email reply. Others may inspire future videos, public questions and answers, or additions to our research resources.
We respect your privacy and will not add you to our email update list unless you request updates.
Interested in Supporting Our Work?
We welcome those who wish to help support our biblical research, educational videos, and free study resources.
Electronic donation options are still being established. To learn how you can contribute, please use the form below and select the option requesting donation information. We'll respond with the available instructions.
In the meantime, please check back as new videos and resources are released.
Project Updates, Research Developments & Corrections
We believe educational research should remain open to further examination. As our website grows, this section will provide transparent records of newly published findings, additions, and any necessary corrections.
What Will Be Documented Here:
- Newly published videos and study guides
- Significant additions to existing investigations
- Research findings & newly examined historical sources
- Corrections or clarifications to published material
- Upcoming investigations and future development milestones
Welcome to the Are Holidays Holy? Project
This website is newly established to serve as the educational home for our biblical and historical investigations. The Twelve Days of Christmas video series is our first major research project currently in production. As videos, outlines, and historical bibliographies are completed, they will be cataloged here.
A Small Team With a Commitment to Truth
Are Holidays Holy? is an educational initiative associated with Knowing the Truth Ministries.
Our purpose is to encourage people to examine religious traditions, understand the Scriptures, and consider historical evidence carefully.
We are a small team balancing several ministry responsibilities. Our work will develop over time, and we welcome thoughtful questions, credible historical sources, and respectful discussion.
Associated Ministry Connection
The broader ministry website is planned at KnowingTheTruthMinistries.org. Additional information about the people behind this project, including personal testimonies, will be introduced as our launch continues.