Movable feasts are those that don't have a fixed date in the calendar and can shift depending on the lunar cycle. The spelling of "movable feasts" corresponds to their pronunciation as /ˈmuːvəbl fiːsts/. The word "movable" is pronounced with the long "u" sound, while "feasts" rhymes with "beasts". This term refers to religious holidays such as Easter or Passover, which vary from year to year based on astronomical observations. Understanding the pronunciation and spelling of "movable feasts" is crucial for those who celebrate these important events.
Movable feasts are recurring religious holidays or celebrations whose dates vary from year to year. These feasts are determined by the lunar or solar calendars and are not fixed to a specific date on the Gregorian calendar. They are observed by various religious traditions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
In Christianity, movable feasts are particularly important within the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant denominations. These feasts include significant events such as Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Pentecost, which marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. The timing of these feasts is tied to the lunar calendar and are influenced by the spring equinox.
Movable feasts in Judaism include Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, among others. Passover, for instance, commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and is calculated according to the lunisolar Hebrew calendar. The dates for these feasts vary within specific ranges to align with certain astronomical phenomena or historical events.
In Islam, movable feasts include Ramadan, which is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims observe fasting from dawn until sunset, and the pilgrimage to Mecca known as Hajj. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, causing the dates of these feasts to move roughly 11 days earlier each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar.
Overall, movable feasts are significant religious observances whose dates change annually, influenced by different calendar systems, symbolizing the cyclical nature of time and the spirituality associated with these events.
Certain Church festivals which are reckoned backward and forward from the Resurrection, the celebration of that event depending on the time of the full moon.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "movable" comes from the Latin word "movēre", which means "to move". It was derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *meue-, meaning "to push away". The term "feasts" refers to religious holidays or celebrations. The combination of these terms, "movable feasts", refers to religious festivals or holidays whose dates change each year, as they are based on the lunar or solar calendar rather than a fixed date. These movable feasts include Easter, Ash Wednesday, and Pentecost, among others.