Peace, blessings, and love to you all! Hold on tight for this one. I hope you are having a great holiday break, but I have to share something I’ve learned. If you don’t know, for the last year and a half, God (Yah) has called me out of Christianity and into His truth. At first, it was scary—I questioned it, I challenged it, and every single time, The Most High kept revealing everything I asked him to reveal.
After many days (and months) of fasting and praying, I made the choice to trust His Word over tradition. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. And I thank The Most High for waking me up from what I was blindly walking into—an oppressive state of mind. It may come as a shock to some, but I haven’t lost my mind—if anything, I found it through the Word and months of deep studying and research. And one of the biggest things He revealed to me? The truth about the so-called "New Year" vs. His true New Year. And today, I’m here to share it with you. Let’s get into it.
Understanding the New Year: From Pagan Origins to the Biblical New Year in Abib
As many celebrate January 1st as the "New Year," few realize that this date is rooted in ancient pagan traditions rather than biblical instruction. If we desire to follow the Most High’s ways, we must examine the origins of this man-made holiday and align ourselves with the true New Year as established in Scripture, which begins in the spring with the month of Abib.
Pagan Origins of the January 1st New Year
The modern New Year celebration is deeply rooted in pagan customs that date back to ancient civilizations. In Ancient Babylon (2000 B.C.), the New Year was originally celebrated during the spring equinox, aligning with agricultural cycles. Similarly, the Romans initially observed the New Year on March 1st, but in 45 B.C., Julius Caesar reformed the calendar and moved it to January 1st. This change was made in honor of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, who was depicted as a two-faced deity—one looking forward and the other looking back (sounds about right).
Many traditional New Year customs, such as feasting, drinking, and making resolutions, stem from these pagan festivities and were later absorbed into Western society. Yet, biblical believers should ask themselves—should we continue to celebrate a day rooted in false gods and traditions, or should we return to the Most High’s calendar?
The Biblical New Year: The Month of Abib
Unlike the man-made calendars, The Most High established the true beginning of the year in the month of Abib, which means “green ears” (referring to ripening barley). This occurs in spring, not winter.
- Exodus 12:2 – “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”
- Exodus 13:4 – “This day came ye out in the month Abib.”
- Deuteronomy 16:1 – “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night”
Key Facts About the Biblical New Year:
- The new year begins in Abib (spring) when barley is in its green ear stage.
- The new moon signals the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover.
- The biblical calendar is based on the moon, not the Gregorian calendar
The biblical New Year and its appointed feasts are beautiful opportunities to align ourselves with The Most High’s ways. Here’s how to prepare:
1. Mark the Date: New Moon of Abib – March 13 and 14, 2025
- This day marks the first day of the biblical year—but don’t just take my word for it. Step outside on the night of March 13th and look up at the sky. That bright moon will confirm it for you!
- It’s a time for spiritual renewal, prayer, and fasting.
2. Prepare for Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread-March 28-April 3, 2025
Passover is observed on the 14th day of Abib at evening (sundown) on March 28, 2025
- Exodus 12:2, 6 – “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you… And ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”
- Leviticus 23:5 – “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yahuah’s Passover.”
- Numbers 9:2-3 – “Let the children of Israel also keep the Passover at his appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.”
- Exodus 12:15 – “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses.”
Final Thoughts on the Pagan New Year
As we step into Abib, the true biblical New Year, it's important to reflect on the pagan traditions many of us once followed without question. The Most High calls us to leave the ways of the world (Jeremiah 10:2) and align with His appointed times instead of man-made traditions.I know this might be new or overwhelming, and that's okay—learning takes time. What matters is having a willing heart to seek truth and follow the Most High's commands over the world’s customs. I’ll be breaking this down throughout the year, sharing more insight, history, and practical steps to align with God.
For now, if you want to dig deeper into the pagan origins of the modern New Year, check out these references:
- Jeremiah 10:2 (KJV) – “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”👉 This is a direct warning from God against following pagan customs, including man-made holidays.
- Daniel 7:25 (KJV) – “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” 👉 This prophecy speaks about powers that would attempt to change God’s appointed times, including the biblical New Year.
- Exodus 12:2 (KJV) – “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”👉 The Most High established Abib as the first month of the year—not January.
- Leviticus 23:4-5 (KJV) – “These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’s passover.”👉 Passover is always observed on the 14th day of Abib, not in the winter months.
- Numbers 9:2-3 (KJV) – “Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.”👉 Passover is an appointed time set by The Most High, aligning with His calendar—not the Roman one.
- Deuteronomy 16:1 (KJV) – “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.”👉 The month of Abib is tied to the Exodus, marking the true beginning of the year.
- 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (KJV) – “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”👉 Even in the New Testament, Paul confirms that Passover is still relevant, urging believers to observe it with sincerity and truth.
These verses help establish that the biblical New Year starts in Abib (not January), Passover is on the 14th day of Abib, and we should follow God’s word—not pagan traditions.
Historical & Encyclopedic Sources:
- The Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop – This book dives into the connections between ancient Babylonian practices and modern religious traditions, including New Year celebrations. Read it here
- The World Book Encyclopedia" (1984), Vol. 14, p. 237 – Discusses the history of New Year's Day, noting that the Romans initially celebrated it on March 1st before Julius Caesar changed the date to January 1st in 46 B.C., naming the month after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates.
- Collier’s Encyclopedia" (1957), Vol. 6, p. 404 – Provides insights into the adoption of the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, which established January 1st as the start of the year, moving away from earlier calendars that followed agricultural and lunar cycles.
- Encyclopedia Britannica" – New Year’s Day – Offers an overview of how different civilizations observed the New Year before the Roman shift to January 1st. Read more
- History.com – The History of New Year’s – Explores the origins of New Year's celebrations, tracing them back to ancient Babylon and Rome, with a focus on Janus and other pagan traditions. Read More
These resources provide a comprehensive understanding of how ancient pagan practices have shaped the modern New Year celebration.
Stay Connected for More Truth!
If you want to dive deeper, I’ll be covering more about Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and other appointed times in my upcoming content on The Godfident Woman.
And for real talk on these topics, make sure to subscribe so you’ll be the first to know when my podcast "Somebody Gotta Say It" officially drops! Subscribe here.
Stay tuned, stay prayerful, and stay in His Word. 💛
Shalom & Many Blessings! ✨
