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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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- Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Easter & Lent

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	Adventures of the American Revolution Annie Henry Books 1-4 by Susan Olasky from P&R Publishing in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Almost Home A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Mary Chilton Daughters of the Faith by Wendy G. Lawton from Moody Press Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Daughters of the Faith (Location: SER-DAU) $7.64 $4.00 (3 in stock)
	America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes from Sandpiper Books Biography for 2nd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.04
	American Revolution War for Independence America at War Series by Alden Carter from Grolier Publishing Historical Non-fiction for 4th-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $5.91 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	American Revolution for Kids by Janis Herbert 1^st edition from Chicago Review Press for 2nd-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Amon's Adventure A Family Story for Easter by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications Historical Fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY) $18.99
	Bartholomew's Passage A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $18.99
	Benjamin Franklin by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $15.26
	Benjamin Franklin Live Wire Heroes of History by Geoff & Janet Benge from Emerald Books Biography for 4th-7th grade in Heroes of History (Location: BIO-BENGE) $10.19
	Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin from Yearling for 4th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Black Heroes of the American Revolution by Burke Davis 1992 Odyssey Classics edition from Clarion Books for 5th-8th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $7.64
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.59
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Scholastic Inc. Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Chains Seeds of America #1 by Laurie Halse Anderson from Atheneum for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Compass by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $10.99
	Christmas Rat by Avi from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Colonial Kids An Activity Guide to Life in the New World by Laurie Carlson 1^st edition from Chicago Review Press for 4th-6th grade in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL) $5.60 (2 in stock)
	Declaration of Independence in Translation What It Really Means by Amie J, Leavitt from Capstone Press for 2nd-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Down Ryton Water by E.R. Gaggin from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. for 4th-6th grade 1942 Newbery Honor in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $3.60 (2 in stock)
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	Faith Unfurled from History Compass for 4th-8th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $6.76 $3.20 (1 in stock)
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	George Washington by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $15.26
	George Washington Sowers Series by Norma Cournow Camp from Mott Media Biography for 6th-8th grade in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	George Washington by Cheryl Harness from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.64
	History of US Book 3 From Colonies to Country: 1735-1791 History of US Book 3 by Joy Hakim 3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University American History Reference for 5th-9th grade in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM) $16.13 $8.80 (1 in stock)
	Homes in the Wilderness A Pilgrim's Journal of Plymouth Plantation in 1620 by William Bradford from Purple House Press for 4th-8th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $8.49
	John Paul Jones The Pirate Patriot Sterling Point Books by Armstrong Sperry from Sterling Publishing Co. Biography for 5th-9th grade in War of 1812 (Location: HISA-19WET) $3.60 (2 in stock)
	John Wesley Men of Faith by Basil Miller from Bethany House Biography for 6th-10th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $2.00 (1 in stock)
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	King George: What Was His Problem? The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution by Steve Sheinkin, illustrated by Tim Robinson 2015^th edition from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-7th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Life of Washington In Words of One Syllable by Josephine Pollard from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 3rd-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.31 $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Mary of Plymouth by James Otis from A Beka Books for 4th-6th grade in A Beka Book Report books (Location: REA-ABK) $3.40 (16 in stock)
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	Profiles of Integrity #1: 1775-1781 Real People Who Demonstrated Godly Character by Marilyn Boyer and Grace Tumas Ehrman from Master Books for 6th-9th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH) $9.34
	Profiles of Valor #1: July 9, 1755–June 17, 1775 Character Studies from the War of Independence by Marilyn Boyer and Grace Tumas Ehrman from Master Books for 6th-9th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH) $9.34
	Profiles of Valor #2: December 11775–December 1777 Character Studies from the War of Independence by Marilyn Boyer and Grace Tumas Ehrman from Master Books for 6th-9th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH) $9.34
	Profiles of Valor #3: December 1777–October 1780 Character Studies from the War of Independence by Marilyn Boyer and Grace Tumas Ehrman from Master Books for 6th-9th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH) $9.34
	Profiles of Valor #4: January 1781–February 1832 Character Studies from the War of Independence by Marilyn Boyer and Grace Tumas Ehrman from Master Books for 6th-9th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH) $9.34
	Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Latin! by Dr. Seuss from Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Christmas Stories (in Latin) for 3rd-6th grade in Latin Resources & Reference (Location: FL-LATREF) $10.40 (1 in stock)
	Reb and the Redcoats Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Constance Savery from Bethlehem Books Historical fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.71
	Revolutionary John Adams by Cheryl Harness Reprint from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.95 $5.50 (1 in stock)
	Revolutionary War by John and Patty Carratello Workbook from Teacher Created Materials, Inc. for 4th-8th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $1.60 (3 in stock)
	Sophia's War by Avi from Beach Lane Books for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Tabitha's Travels A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Servant Publications for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Tabitha's Travels A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99
	Three Gold Doubloons Level 7 by Edith Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Clement Hurd from The Good and the Beautiful for 3rd-6th grade in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA) $3.20 (2 in stock)
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	Voyage to Freedom A Story of the Atlantic Crossing 1620 by David Gay from Banner of Truth Trust Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $10.20
	Warrior's Challenge TrailBlazer Books by Dave and Neta Jackson from Castle Rock Creative for 3rd-7th grade in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL) $9.99
	We Were There at the Boston Tea Party by Robert N. Webb from Dover Publications for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.49
	What is the Declaration of Independence? What Was? 1^st edition from Grosset & Dunlap for 3rd-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $5.09 $2.40 (1 in stock)
	What Was the First Thanksgiving? What Was? by Joan Holub, illustrated by Lauren Mortimer 1^st edition from Grosset & Dunlap for 3rd-6th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Who Was Paul Revere? Who Was? Biographies 1^st edition from Grosset & Dunlap in Who Was? biographies (Location: BIO-WHO) $5.94
	Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock? from PaperStar Books in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $5.94
	Wild Hope Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, Illustrated by David G. Klein from Paraclete Press for 6th-Adult in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	William Bradford Plymouth's Rock by Geoff & Janet Benge from YWAM Publishing for 4th-8th grade in Heroes of History (Location: BIO-BENGE) $10.19
	Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen from Ember for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Yankee Doodle Boy A Young Soldier's Adventures in the American Revolution Told by Himself by Joseph Martin from Holiday House Historical Non-Fiction for 5th-8th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $9.99
	Young Patriot by Jim Murphy from HMH Books for Young Readers for 3rd-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $3.20 (2 in stock)

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