History.

`The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my feasts.` (Lev. 13: 2)

Convocations - an assembly, a rehearsal of the past, but looking to the future fulfillment.

Passover 

This commemorated Israel`s deliverance from Egypt. Each family celebrated the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, and symbolically re-enacted the first Passover as they ate their own special meal.

The celebration continued for seven days as they commemorated the Exodus and wilderness wanderings by eating unleavened bread, recalling the haste with which they left Egypt, when they did not have time to let the bread rise.  (Ex. 12: 11 - 30,  Lev. 23: 4 - 8,  Num. 28: 16 - 25,  Matt. 26: 17)

The Firstfruits is also celebrated with the barley harvest at the end of the seven-day Passover festival. (Lev. 23: 9 - 14)

The Feast of Weeks. 

This Festival is seven weeks after Passover, when the Jews celebrate the gathering in of the wheat harvest. The priests offered symbolically two loaves made from new flour of the new harvest. The Feast later became associated with the giving of the Law, (two tablets) to Moses as Mount Sinai in that month. (Lev. 23: 9 - 22,  Deut. 16: 9 - 12)

Trumpets 

A time of reckoning with God. This two-day celebration marked by the blowing of trumpets to greet the civil New Year, was also the beginning of the most solemn month of the year. The Israelites prepared themselves for Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement which comes ten days later) by praising God, whose standard they had failed to meet, and recounting His greatness, love and mercy. (Lev. 23: 23 - 25,   Num. 1 - 6)

Day of Atonement 

Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish year. Here Israel confessed the nation`s sins, and asked forgiveness and cleansing. A scapegoat was sent into the desert carrying symbolically the people`s sin. The High Priest entered the Most Holy Place of the temple on this day alone with blood and fire from the altar. (Lev. 16,  23: 26 - 32,  Num. 29: 7 - 11)

Tabernacles

Commemorated Israel`s wanderings in the wilderness. It is a joyful harvest festival. During the seven-day celebration the people thanked God for protecting them in the wilderness and for the harvest. For seven days they lived in shelters made of branches, to remind them of their time living in tents in the wilderness. (Lev. 23: 33 - 44,  Num. 29: 12 - 40,  John 7: 2)