The Feasts of the Lord
"The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, 'The Lord's appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations - My appointed times are these"
- Leviticus 23:1-3 NAS
God's Appointed Times
God has established
'appointed times' of celebration that are to be observed as feasts to the Lord. Even though many refer to these celebrations as Jewish feasts, God specifically says that they are set apart as His feasts.
God describes His feasts as
"holy convocations" that we are commanded to
"proclaim at the times appointed for them." This means that we can not just celebrate them willy-nilly any old time we choose, but on specific days during specific seasons.
The imagery portrayed in these holy convocations
(miqra) is that of a sanctified people who are called out of the world to celebrate God's redemptive events. Each event is celebrated as a feast which serves as a "rehearsal" in preparation for the
"appointed time" of its fulfillment in Messiah. Simply put, the Feasts of the Lord are "rehearsal dinners" that celebrate God's plan of redemption in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
It's important to note that, throughout history, the holy-days (holidays) a person observed identified them with the God they served. Therefore, as we approach the end of the age and the great end time harvest, God (Yahweh) is using His feasts to separate the righteous wheat from the unrighteous tares (Matt. 13:24-30; Rev. 14:14-20). In other words, God is calling His people to stop observing the
pagan feasts of this world and return to His feasts as a way of setting themselves apart from the end time mystery of Babylon (Rev. 18:4).
God's appointed times total eight in all. One weekly observance called "the Sabbath" or "Shabbat" and seven annual feasts. The annual feasts consist of four spring feasts that celebrate Messiah's first coming as the Lamb of God who died for our sins and three fall feasts that celebrate His second coming as King of kings and Lord of lords who will judge the nations and establish His kingdom on the earth.
In fact, as we move toward the return of Messiah (Christ), we must understand what each of the fall feasts represent in order to recognize the sequence and the timing of end time events . This will not only help better appreciate God's redemption in Messiah, but it will also give a more accurate understanding of events surrounding the coming of the Lord.
7 Annual Feasts ( Appointed Times )
Spring -
1. Passover
2. Unleavened Bread
3. First Fruits
4. Weeks
Fall -
5. Trumpets
6. Atonement
7. Tabernacles
http://www.when-is.com/passover-2016.asp
Yeah. Easter bunny. Santa Clause. All just kind of the distractions from what the day is supposed to recognize. 
