Celebrating over a meal is something followers of Christ do.  One of the major accusations that the pharisees cast at Jesus was that he came eating and drinking - and with sinners, prostitutes and tax collectors no less.  

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Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Luke 5:29

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The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

Matthew 22:2

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Heaven will be one large eternal feast.  We will be part of the marriage supper of the Lamb.  But until then, Christians have also developed our own ceremonies and special days.  These too have the same purpose of Old Testament feasts - helping us to Remember the Salvation of the Lord.   Here are a list of the annual Christian holidays which should be honour and remembered - not for materialistic means but for their spiritual meaning and sacred purpose.

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• Baptism - Baptism is both an act of obedience to God and a symbol of God's redemptive work in a new believer's life. Baptism's public nature is a declaration of repentance and a message of evangelism to all who observe it. The immersion act of Baptism is a symbol of Jesus death, burial and resurrection and our decision to align with Him as His disciple.

• Communion - Also known as the Lord's Supper. This ceremony is where believers remember the price that was paid for their sin.  They drink a bit of wine and eat a bit of bread to symbolise the flesh and blood of Jesus which was sacrificed on their behalf. Observance of this ceremony is not just a tradition, but it is following the command of Jesus who said 'Do this in remembrance of me'.

• Easter - Easter is an annual weekend of reflection upon the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Good Friday can only be known by believers as good, because we know that our sins were paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ when He was crucified on the cross.  Easter Sunday is the day that we reflect on bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ,His victory over death, and our promise of a new resurrection body in heaven.

• Christmas - Christmas was originally a pagan holiday around the winter solstice.  However the Catholic church rebranded the event as Christ's mass.   Christmas celebrations have become national holidays in many western nations.  Protestant Christians celebrate Christmas as a time when we reflect on the incarnation of Christ - who came to earth with the purpose of being born to die.  The arrival of Jesus and His salvation truely brings Joy to the World.

•  Mother's Day - The role of a mother is a God given role to women. In Genesis 3, God gave the role of motherhood to Eve.  Motherhood brings both pain and great joy. The future of humanity is just one generation of mothers away from being extinct. Therefore, a diligent and caring mother who births and raises children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, receives incomparable satisfaction where her children rise up and call her blessed. Mother's Day is a dedicated time when children do just that.  

• Father's Day - The role of a father is a God given role to men.  In Genesis 3, God gave the role of fatherhood to Adam.  Fatherhood brings both responsibility and legacy.  The future of humanity is just one generation of father's away from being extinct. Absent or abusive fathers cause pain and great social damage.  Active fathers build robust pillars for future families, provide a picture of our Heavenly Father and provide a platform for the salvation of the next generation.

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Believers need to guard against secularising and materialising these holidays and events.  Participating in and passing on the significance of these celebrations should be part of the church and the family.  Their observation comes with great blessing and hope for our future.