This article will reveal the historically earliest and latest dates God's commanded Feast Days have occurred based on an analysis of all such dates in the Biblical (Hebrew) calendar from 3761 B.C. to 2024 A.D.
Why the Variance?
There are two major factors that can affect when the Feast (Holy) days can occur. The first is the possible addition of a single day to the months of Heshvan or Kislev. Both of these months can have either 29 or 30 days.
The second factor contributing to the movement of dates of God's Feast Days is the addition of a leap month. When a leap month of 30 days is inserted in the calendar it is called Adar I. The usual month of Adar, which always contains 29 days, is then renamed Adar II. Leap months, which are thirty days in length, are added in years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 19 of the Hebrew calendar's 19-year time cycle.
Passover
The earliest start of Passover that has ever occurred (the Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately follows it) was at sunset on March 13. This date was within year 16 of the Hebrew (Biblical) calendar's nineteen-year time cycle. This early feast date took place in 1348, 1405, 1481, 1500 and 1576 A.D.
The historically latest start for Passover has been at sunset on April 28 (within year 8 of the nineteen-year cycle). This date for the feast occurred in 3696, 3677, 3658 and 3430 B.C.
The above results mean that Passover can be observed within a range of 47 days (just short of seven complete weeks).
Passover has started at sunset Sunday (Biblical days begin and end at sunset) 1,844 times, making it the most common beginning for this first Feast day. It next has commenced 1,654 times at Tuesday sunset, followed by 1,620 starts at Thursday sunset and 666 starts at Friday sunset.
Passover, based on the Biblical calendar, has never begun at sunset on a Saturday, Monday or Wednesday.
Feast of Unleavened Bread
The one day Feast of Passover is immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is celebrated for seven days. The first day of Unleavened Bread is also the first of seven Biblical high days that occur throughout the year.
Based on the Passover statistics given above, this feast has begun the most at sunset Monday followed by sunsets on Wednesday, Friday and then Saturday. This high Feast day has never started at sunset on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Sundays.
Pentecost
Pentecost is always observed from sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday. The earliest start ever for this Holy Day was at sunset on May 2 (within year 16 of the calendar's nineteen-year time cycle). This early start took place in 1405 and 1500 A.D.
The historically latest start for Pentecost was at sunset on June 22 (within year 8 of the nineteen-year time cycle). This delayed onset of the High Holy Day happened only in 3677 and 3430 B.C.
The above results mean that Pentecost can be observed within a unusually large range of 52 days.
Feast of Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, always falls on Tishri 1 on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the start of the Hebrew civil year. It also marks the beginning of another year in the calendar's nineteen-year cycle.
The earliest start ever for the Feast of Trumpets was at sunset on August 24 (within year 17 of the Hebrew calendar's time cycle). This feast began at this time in 1348, 1405, 1481, 1500 and 1576 A.D.
The latest start for the observance of Trumpets was at sunset on October 9 (within year 9 of the calendar's time cycle). This early observance took place in 3696, 3677, 3658 and 3430 B.C.
The above results mean that Trumpets can be observed within a range of 47 days. Trumpets holds the distinction of being the only Holy (Feast) Day that can potentially fall within three Julian / Gregorian months (August, September and October).
Trumpets, which is the fourth festival high day of the year, has commenced 1,844 times at sunset on a Wednesday, followed by sunsets on Friday (1,654), Sunday (1,621) and Monday (666). This feast day has never started on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday sunset.
Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, is the fifth feast high day of the year. Its earliest start, throughout history, was at sunset on September 2 (within year 17 of the time cycle). This early date took place in 1348, 1405, 1481, 1500 and 1576 A.D.
The latest start for Atonement was at sunset on October 18 (within year 9 of the calendar's time cycle). This took place in 3696, 3677, 3658 and 3430 B.C.
The above results mean that Atonement, like many of the other Feast days, can be observed within a range of 47 days.
Atonement has begun at sunset on Friday 1,844 times, then sunset Sunday 1,654 times, followed by sunset Tuesday (1,621) and sunset Wednesday (666). It has never started at sunset on a Monday, Thursday or Saturday.
Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles, a seven day festival period, is immediately followed by the Last Great Day. Both the first day of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day are high Holy days.
The earliest start date ever for the Feast of Tabernacles was at sunset on September 7 (within year 17 of the calendar's time cycle). This early celebration of the most joyous of God's Feast periods took place in 1348, 1405, 1481, 1500 and 1576 A.D.
The latest start date for this Feast was at sunset on October 23 (year 9 of the Hebrew calendar's 19-year time cycle). This late date occurred in 3696, 3677, 3658 and 3430 B.C.
The above results mean that they Feast of Tabernacles can begin within a range of 47 days.
Since this feast begins exactly two weeks after Trumpets (Tishri 15), its most popular starting days are the same. They are sunset on Wednesday followed by sunsets on Friday, Sunday and Monday. The first day of Tabernacles never starts at sunset on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.