Firstfruits, also referred to as the Feast of Weeks in the Bible, is recognized as the start of the Jewish religious calendar, and has been in practice since before Jesus’ time and into the twenty-first century. Yet, even more than a new calendar, Firstfruits is actually a Biblical festival offered in recognition of God’s blessing over the past year and an advanced celebration for God’s future provision over His people in the year ahead (Leviticus 23:9-14). This is why the original Hebrew word for firstfruits (“bikkurim”) literally means “promise to come” and is the most mentioned day in the Bible, except for Passover (Easter). The actual practice and celebration of firstfruits involved painstaking efforts coupled with eager involvement from each household. In fact, the process of gathering the firstfruits required each family to carefully watch their fields. Then, at the sight of the first budding fruit or grain on the tree or in the field, they would immediately ‘mark’ each species of the first-maturing produce by tying a piece of red yarn around the branch, limb or vine; designating it as the ‘first’ in the growing process for the new year – which became the firstfruit sacrifice.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” — Proverbs 3:9 ESV

Once the firstfruit crop had matured and was harvested, it was brought to the Temple, where the High Priest would receive the family’s gift, lift it above his head and wave it back and forth while giving thanks to God for His past faithfulness and declaring His continued provision and blessing over the new year. It was only after this firstfruit sacrifice had been made that the people could consume the remainder of the harvest. This is because the first had sanctified the rest!