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Celebration isintrinsic to human nature. As God's image bearers we are compelled to celebrate—just as He did when He called His creation good, just as He did when He exalted His Son on top of a mountain, just as the angels and elders do around His throne. God even commanded celebrations in His name, providing the Jews specific instructions for feasts and holidays.

With the coming of Christ things changed a bit. God's people were no longer required to hold specific holy days above all others, because that was a feature of the Law that Christ fulfilled in our place and freed us from. The apostle Paul summarizes in Romans 14:5: One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

That's not to say there aren't good reasons to observe certain holidays, especially those memorializing key events or elements of the Christian faith. We look to the Sabbath, or Lord's Day, as our day of worship, and the Christian calendar is a good guide to those days traditionally observed by the Church, with special emphasis on Advent and Christmas, Easter and Lent, and Pentecost. If you're so inclined, there are a bajillion saint days in honor of famous and lesser-known champions of the faith.

Many will argue that Christians should celebrate none of these holidays. The point isn't that the events commemorated aren't central to the Christian faith, but that their formalized celebration by the Church was simply a "christianization" of similar pagan holidays in the Roman and Near Eastern worlds. For instance, Christmas as observed on December 25th is really a Christian version of the Roman Saturnalia, a festival devoted to the sun; Easter is named after the Babylonian fertility goddess, and celebrates her union with the god Tammuz.

The similarities between the Christian holidays and their pagan counterparts are indeed fascinating. However, we take this as affirmation of God's sovereignty, not as a reason to avoid holiday celebrations. Through His death and resurrection, Christ redeemed all things and reclaimed them in His name.

"All things" includes holidays. Indeed, what Christ has done and what He gives us should be celebrated every day of the year, but to choose specific days for observance can help re-center our all-too-often selfish existences on Him. We do need to be careful not to simply accept worldly standards for our holidays (the commercialization of Christmas, the nonsense Easter bunnies, etc.), but we need to be equally sure we aren't refraining from genuine celebration just because those standards exist. God has given us all cause for joy, and it's our duty and pleasure to thank Him.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Holidays / Church Calendar

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- Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Easter & Lent

Jewish Holidays & Traditions

St. Patrick's Day

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Used Books & Materials

	A B C is for Christmas by Jane Werner Watson, illustrated by Sally Augustiny from Golden Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	American History for Young Students I Exploration to 1800 by Michelle Miller from TruthQuest History History Curriculum for 1st-5th grade in TruthQuest History (Location: HISCUR-TQ) $17.50 (1 in stock)
	Ben Franklin See and Read: Beginning to Read Biography by Estelle Friedman, illustrated by James Caraway from G.P. Putnam's Sons for 1st-3rd grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $9.60 (1 in stock)
	Better-Than-Best Purim by Naomi Howland PJ Library from Two Lions for Preschool-2nd grade in Jewish Holidays & Traditions (Location: HOLIDAY) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Buttons for General Washington by Peter & Connie Roop from Carolrhoda Books, Inc. for 1st-3rd grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Chanukah in Chelm by David A. Adler, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Children's Theatre A Reproduction of the Antique Pop-Up Book by Franz Bonn from Viking Press for Preschool-4th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Alphabet Deluxe Anniversary Edition by Robert Sabuda from Orchard Books for Nursery-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Carol Miracle by Luise Putcamp from Abingdon Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Christmas Story by Jane Werner from Golden Books for Preschool-1st grade in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett from Puffin Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Draw Write Now Book 3 Native Americans/North America/Pilgrims by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer from In the Think of Things for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN) $19.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Easter Bunny, Are You for Real? by Harold Myra, illustrated by Dwight Walles from Thomas Nelson Publishers for Preschool-2nd grade in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Famous Figures of the American Revolution from Figures in Motion for Kindergarten-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $9.60 (2 in stock)
	First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George from Philomel Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	First Thanksgiving Feast by Joan Anderson from HMH Books for Young Readers for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 1st-4th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $6.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-4th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Gift by R. Kent Hughes, Illustrated by Ron DiCianni, Calligraphy by Timothy R. Botts from Crossway Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Gift of the Magi by O. Henry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Golden Christmas Treasury by Rick Bunsen (editor) from Golden Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Harold at the North Pole A Christmas Journey with the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson from HarperCollins for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.20 (1 in stock)
	Hatmaker's Sign: A Story by Benjamin Franklin by Candace Fleming (reteller), illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker from Orchard Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	He is Risen Rocks Tell the Story of Easter by Patti Rokus from Zondervan for Preschool-1st grade in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY) $17.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	History Pockets: Life in Plymouth Colony by Jill Norris & Sandi Johnson from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers for 1st-3rd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Jotham's Journey Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications for 1st-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99 $10.50 (1 in stock)
	Legend of Saint Nicholas by Demi from Margaret K. McElderry Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began by Lucille Recht Penner from Random House in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell, Illustrated by Sergio Leone Reprint from Ideals Publications for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Meet George Washington Step Up Books by Joan Heilbroner from Random House Biography for 1st-4th grade in Step Up Books (Location: VIN-STEP) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Henry W. Longfellow, illustrated by Jeffrey Thompson Reprint from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Molly's Pilgrim A Bantam First Skylark by Barbara Cohen, illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy from HarperTrophy for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $1.60 (4 in stock)
	Morris's Disappearing Bag A Christmas Story by Rosemary Wells from Dial Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims by Robert D. San Souci from Chronicle Books for Kindergarten-5th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Nativity by Julie Vivas from Voyager Books for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore, illustrated by Jan Brett from Scholastic Press for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Night the Toys Came to Life A Christmas Story by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Shirley Willis from Gallery Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	On the Mayflower by Kate Waters from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-4th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $6.80 (1 in stock)
	One Wintry Night by Richard Jesse Watson from Baker Books for Kindergarten-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Paul Revere First Biographies by Jan Gleiter and Kathleen Thompson, Illustrated by Francis Balistreri from Steck-Vaughn Company for 1st-3rd grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler 1^st edition from Holiday House for Preschool-3rd grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Pilgrim Adventures by Margaret B. Pumphrey from My Father's World for 1st-3rd grade in My Father's World (Location: CUR-MFW) $10.36 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Pilgrims' Party A Really Truly Story A Really Truly Story by Sadybeth & Anson Lowitz from Lerner Publishing Group for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Plymouth Thanksgiving by Leonard Weisgard Reprint from Doubleday Book For Young Readers for Kindergarten-5th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Prancer by Stephen Cosgrove from Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May, Barbara Shook Hazen (Adapter), illustrated by Richard Scarry "I" Printing from Golden Books for Nursery-1st grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Sailing to America Colonists at Sea Adventures in Colonial America by James Knight, illustrated by George Guzzi from Troll Associates Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Samuel Eaton's Day A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy by Kate Waters from Scholastic Inc. Non-fiction for Nursery-2nd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Santa Mouse by Michael Brown, illustrated by Elfrieda De Witt from Grosset & Dunlap for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Santabear's First Christmas by Barbara Read, illustrated by Howard B. Lewis from Santabear Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Sarah Morton's Day A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters from Scholastic Inc. Non-fiction for Nursery-3rd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $6.79 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Savior is Born Rocks Tell the Story of Christmas by Patti Rokus from Zondervan for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $16.99 $9.60 (2 in stock)
	Secrets of the American Revolution by Tyler Omoth from Capstone Press for 1st-4th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas from Thomas Nelson Publishers for 1st-2nd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Squanto's Journey The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac Reprint from HMH Books for Young Readers for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Story of the Mayflower Compact from Children's Press for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN) $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Tell Me About Christmas by Mary Alice Jones, illustrated by Marjorie Cooper from Rand McNally for 1st-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Thank You, Sarah The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving Reprint from Simon and Schuster for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh, illustrated by Helen Sewell from Charles Scribner's Sons Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade 1955 Caldecott Honor Book in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Thirteen Days of Yule by Nonny Hogrogian from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Thomas Jefferson A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-3rd grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness from Aladdin Paperbacks Biography for 1st-4th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $6.79 $3.20 (3 in stock)
	True Book: The Declaration of Independence from Children's Press for 1st-3rd grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Unwrapping the Greatest Gift A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp from Tyndale House for Kindergarten-4th grade in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO) $26.99 $13.50 (2 in stock)
	Usborne Book of the Seasons Things to do all year round by Angela Wilkes from Usborne for Preschool-3rd grade in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Susan Gaber from Aladdin Paperbacks for Preschool-2nd grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	When Christmas Comes by Doris Whitman, illustrated by David K. Stone from Holt, Rinehart and Winston for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	When Joy Came The Story of the First Christmas by Pauline Palmer Meek; illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis from Golden Books for Preschool-3rd Grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	When Washington Crossed the Delaware A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots by Lynne Cheney from Simon & Schuster Macmillan for Preschool-3rd grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	When Washington Crossed the Delaware A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots by Lynne Cheney from Simon & Schuster Macmillan for Preschool-3rd grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Winter at Valley Forge Survival and Victory Adventures in Colonial America by James Knight from Beautiful Feet Books Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $5.91 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Wipe Your Feet, Santa Claus! by Konrad Richter, illustrated by Jozef Wilkon from North-South Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Yankee Doodle A Revolutionary Tail by Gary Chalk from DK Publishing for Preschool-3rd grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston from Puffin Books for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)

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