How many High Sabbaths are there in a year?

In many religious traditions, particularly within Judaism and certain Christian denominations, the term “High Sabbaths” (sometimes called “High Holy Days” or “Annual Sabbaths”) refers to special days of rest and worship that are separate from the regular weekly Sabbath. These days, rooted in the biblical calendar, have profound spiritual and cultural significance. This article explores how many High Sabbaths occur in a year, their origins, their meanings, and how they are observed today.

What Are High Sabbaths?

A High Sabbath is distinguished from the weekly Sabbath (which occurs every Saturday, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) in that it is tied to specific festivals ordained in the Torah, particularly those outlined in Leviticus 23.

High Sabbaths are annual in nature, defined by their connection to the biblical festivals, and may fall on any day of the week depending on the year and the lunar calendar. The concept is especially prominent among groups that observe the biblical feasts, such as Jews, Messianic Jews, and some Christian groups (e.g., Seventh-day Adventists and Church of God communities).

The Biblical Foundation: Leviticus 23

The main scriptural source for High Sabbaths is Leviticus 23, which lists the “appointed festivals” of the Lord. These festivals are divided into several categories: the weekly Sabbath, Passover and Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (including the Eighth Day). Each of these, except for the weekly Sabbath, is tied to specific dates and agricultural seasons.

How Many High Sabbaths Are There?

The answer is that there are seven annual High Sabbaths, but the count can sometimes appear as eight depending on how the final festival is observed. The seven High Sabbaths correspond to the special “rest days” in the festival calendar, each of which is described in the Torah as a day for holy convocation and rest, in which no regular work is to be done. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The First Day of Unleavened Bread (15th day of the first month, Nisan)
2. The Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread (21st day of Nisan)
3. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost or Shavuot)
4. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah or Rosh Hashanah, 1st day of the seventh month, Tishrei)
5. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, 10th of Tishrei)
6. The First Day of Tabernacles (Sukkot, 15th of Tishrei)
7. The Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret, 22nd of Tishrei)

Let’s explore each High Sabbath in more detail.

The High Sabbaths Explained

1. The First Day of Unleavened Bread
   The festival of Passover begins on the 14th of Nisan, but the next day, the 15th, marks the start of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day is a High Sabbath (Leviticus 23:7), on which no regular work is to be done. This day commemorates the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt, when they had no time for their bread to rise.
2. The Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread
   The final (seventh) day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is also a High Sabbath (Leviticus 23:8). It marks the conclusion of the festival and recalls the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea, a pivotal moment in their journey to freedom.
3. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost or Shavuot)
   Fifty days after the offering of the “wave sheaf” during Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks is celebrated (Leviticus 23:15-21). This day is also a High Sabbath, marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and, in Christian tradition, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
4. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah or Rosh Hashanah)
   On the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei), the Feast of Trumpets is observed (Leviticus 23:23-25). This day is a memorial proclaimed with the blowing of trumpets and is a High Sabbath. In Judaism, it is also known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
5. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
   Yom Kippur, the 10th day of Tishrei, is considered the holiest day of the Jewish year (Leviticus 23:26-32). It is a day of fasting, repentance, and atonement, and is a High Sabbath of complete rest. Unique among the Sabbaths, it is described as a “Sabbath of Sabbaths.”
6. The First Day of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
   On the 15th day of Tishrei begins the Feast of Tabernacles, a week-long festival commemorating the Israelites’ dwelling in tents in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:33-35). The first day is a High Sabbath, marked by special worship, feasting, and the construction of temporary shelters (sukkot).
7. The Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret)
   Following the seven days of Tabernacles, an additional day, the Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret), is commanded as a day of assembly and rest (Leviticus 23:36, 39). This day is considered a separate festival and is a High Sabbath. In some traditions, Simchat Torah is celebrated at this time, marking the completion of the annual Torah reading.

Are There Ever Eight High Sabbaths?

The confusion about seven or eight High Sabbaths often arises because the Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret) is sometimes grouped with the Feast of Tabernacles and sometimes counted separately. In Jewish tradition, Shemini Atzeret is a distinct festival, making seven High Sabbaths in total. In some Christian or Messianic calendars, however, the Eighth Day is listed as an additional High Sabbath, bringing the count to eight. The difference is largely in the method of counting, not in the days themselves.

High Sabbaths vs. Weekly Sabbaths

It’s important to note that High Sabbaths can fall on any day of the week. Occasionally, a High Sabbath coincides with the regular weekly Sabbath, making that day doubly significant. For example, if the first day of Unleavened Bread falls on a Saturday, both the weekly and High Sabbath are observed on the same day. This is referred to as a “double Sabbath.”

How High Sabbaths Are Observed

High Sabbaths are marked by special synagogue or church services, readings from the Torah or Bible, prayers, and often festive meals. Certain types of work or activities are restricted, similar to the weekly Sabbath. The exact customs can vary widely depending on community, denomination, and tradition. For example:

• On Passover and Tabernacles, families gather for elaborate meals and rituals.
• On Yom Kippur, participants fast and spend most of the day in prayer and reflection.
• On the Feast of Trumpets, the shofar (ram’s horn) is blown as a call to repentance and renewal.

The Spiritual Significance

High Sabbaths are not merely days of rest; they are deeply symbolic. Each festival commemorates a key event in the history of Israel and carries spiritual lessons about redemption, gratitude, humility, and hope. For Christians who observe the biblical feasts, these days also point to the life, ministry, and return of Jesus (Yeshua) as the Messiah.

Modern Calendars and High Sabbaths

The dates of High Sabbaths are determined by the Hebrew (lunar) calendar, so they do not correspond to fixed dates on the Gregorian (solar) calendar used in most of the world. As a result, the dates move each year, and followers must consult a Hebrew calendar or a published festival schedule to know when the High Sabbaths will occur. Many communities publish annual calendars marking both weekly and High Sabbaths for their members.

Do All Jews and Christians Observe High Sabbaths?

While all Jews recognize these festivals, not all Jewish communities observe the High Sabbaths with the same customs or emphasis. In Christianity, only certain groups—including Messianic Jews and some Sabbath-keeping denominations—observe the High Sabbaths as outlined in Leviticus. Mainstream Christianity typically celebrates only Easter and Pentecost (derived from Passover and Shavuot) and does not keep the other feasts as High Sabbaths.

Conclusion: Seven (or Eight) High Sabbaths Each Year

In summary, there are seven annual High Sabbaths each year, as commanded in Leviticus 23: the first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, the first day of Tabernacles, and the Eighth Day. Sometimes, Shemini Atzeret is counted separately as an eighth.