DIY Pumpkin Candleholders for Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles Sukkah Decoration Craft)

Here's an easy craft to make to decorate for the Feast of Tabernacles or to spread Sukkot joy to a loved one...DIY pumpkin candleholders! They make for great sukkah decorations, or decor for your home, and they can also be a simple hostess gift during the fall Biblical holiday season.

They are easy to make, and kids can help to decorate them however they'd like. I wrote a simple 'Happy Sukkot' on the one in the picture, but of course you could use other Feast of Tabernacles greetings or Bible verses. You could also paint the pumpkins or decorate them with stickers if you're inclined. Here's how to make them. They really are very simple and can be done quickly!

You will need:
Mini pumpkin
Tea candle
Pen
Knife
Spoon
Marker

Break off as much of the stem as you can. This will make it easier to trace. Place a tea candle on top of the pumpkin, roughly in the middle. Trace around this with your pen (it doesn't have to be exact - but it will give you an idea of where to cut). Then carefully cut around this circle, and remove the pumpkin skin so that you're left with a small crater. Clean any seeds or debris out with the spoon. See if the tea candle fits inside. If it doesn't, use the spoon (or knife, if necessary) to scrape out more pumpkin until the cavity can hold the tea candle.

Insert the candle into the pumpkin. I take the candles out of the thin tin cups they come in and insert just the wax part into the pumpkin. That way it can simply be tossed into a fire or compost bin after being lit and used up.

Discard or compost the stem and any scrapings of pumpkin innards.

Use markers to write, "Happy Sukkot," or similar festive greetings, on the outside of the pumpkin. Other ideas you could write include:

Happy Tabernacles!
He is with us.
Welcome to our sukkah.
Sukkot: it's in tents.
I am coming to dwell among you. -Zechariah 2:10

These will keep for a few days in cooler weather. If it's warm in your area, you can also store them in the fridge before use to extend their shelf life a bit. They are a simple decoration for the Feast of Tabernacles and also make a nice gift for friends celebrating the Biblical holidays. If the cutting is done ahead of time, you can have kids add the candles and decorate the pumpkins as a craft for Bible school or as part of a Sukkot gathering activity.

I made these for Tabernacles but they can also be used to decorate for the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Kippur!

More posts like this:
Everything You Should Know about the Feast of Tabernacles
Eight Day of Activities for the Feast of Tabernacles
Sukkot Scavenger Hunt Game!

When Is the Feast of Trumpets This Year?

When does the Biblical holiday the Feast of Trumpets happen this year? The calendar the Bible gives is a bit different from the Gregorian calendar we are used to now, so even though the Bible gives set dates for when holidays like the Feast of Trumpets, it doesn't always land at the same dates on our calendar. In the Bible, the Feast of Trumpets falls on the first day of the seventh month.

The Feast of Trumpets is also known as Yom Teruah, which means the Day of Sounding. In Judaism this holiday is commonly referred to as Rosh Hashanah.

So when is the Feast of Trumpets this year in 2025?

September 22-24 on the traditional calendar. Note that on this calendar days start in the evening. That means Trumpets starts at sundown on the evening of September 22 and goes until sundown on the evening of September 24.

Why is it celebrated for two days on this calendar?

This is such a good question because if you read what Scripture says about this holiday, you see that it is only a one day event (Leviticus 23:24). In Judaism it is observed for two days because of Talmudic regulations on confirming when the month started. Basically the theory was that someone would see the new moon and then need to testify that it had happened and therefore the month had started. By the time this procedure was concluded the day would be over. So Trumpets had already happened and then they would celebrate the next day.

Is it necessary to observe it for two days?

Unless you are working to adhere to Jewish law, feel free to stick with what the Bible says and celebrate for one day. If you're going to stick with one day, I would recommend the first date listed.

What happens on the Feast of Trumpets?

Trumpets is to be treated like the regular weekly Sabbath, meaning work is not to be conducted on this day. As the name implies it's a day of sounding shofars or trumpets. Throughout Scripture, shofars were sounded at big events including the coronation of kings, the battle of Jericho, the giving of the law, and at the start of the Jubilee years. It is expected the Messiah will return on the Feast of Trumpets!

Where is the Feast of Trumpets celebrated?

Believers around the world celebrate Trumpets! Special services, Bible studies, worship nights, and dance parties are held in homes, parks, and churches. If you don't have a congregation to meet with feel free to celebrate in your home on your own!

Who celebrates the Feast of Trumpets?

Many people believe that celebrating and honoring the times in the Bible that God says to stop and worship him on, believers in Messiah today can still take part in these special times like the Feast of Trumpets! 

The Feast of Trumpets can be celebrated by anyone who wants to honor the Creator with their participation. Celebrating the Feast of Trumpets is worshipping the Living God!

Where is the Feast of Trumpets in the Bible?

The Bible mentions the Feast of Trumpets in Leviticus 23:23-25, Numbers 29:1, and  Nehemiah 8:1-3.

How can you celebrate the Feast of Trumpets?

Like all the Biblical holidays, celebrating Trumpets can simple or extravagant. It's a Sabbath day, so take the day off from work and set aside chores, home maintenance, and side hustle activities. One of the main points of all the holidays is to remember what God has done so read his word and remind yourself of the work you have seen him do in your life. Music is a significant piece of Trumpets, so it's a great day to put on worship music or attend a worship night if possible. 

More about the Feast of Trumpets:
The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets
Bible Verses on the Feast of Trumpets
The Significance of the Shofar

Where to Find Feast of Tabernacles Gatherings in 2024 (for believers in Messiah)

Are you looking for a Feast of Tabernacles event happening near you? I'm excited to share this year's directory for 2024 to help you find a Sukkot event in your area. It features Tabernacle events happening in every region of the United States, and also our largest ever section of international celebrations, with feast sites in the UK, Canada, Australia, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe!

If you're looking for an opportunity to celebrate this Biblical holiday with other believers hopefully you can find a site that's celebrating in your area! Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is an eight day celebration, and many of these gatherings last for the duration, but some are shorter or longer. Even if you can only make a a day or two, it can be very worthwhile to worship the Creator with others during this special time.

When is the Feast of Tabernacles in 2024?

As you'll see below, different denominations and ministries go by different calendars, but most commonly the date to celebrate Tabernacles or Sukkot this year is October 16-24, but some will observe the feast starting in mid September. I would encourage you to pray about what dates you should keep.

Please note: I am not familiar with each ministry or all the people responsible for these Tabernacle events. People celebrate the Biblical holidays in a variety of ways, so reach out and contact the organizers ahead of time if you have specific questions about what that will look like. I simply want to give people the option of connecting with others through this list.

Feast of Tabernacles 2024 Event Directory:

SoCal Shabbat Fellowship Sukkot
September 17 - 27
Valley Center, California

Safe Haven Farms Sukkot
September 18 - 27
Dinuba, California

Sukkot NC
September 18 - 27
Triangle, Virginia

EliYah Tabernacles
September 18 - 27
Steelville, Missouri

Yahweh's Restoration Ministries Feast of Tabernacles
September 19 - 26
Holts Summit, Missouri

Wisconsin Dells Tabernacles
September 19 - 26
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Feast of Tabernacles Hudson Valley
September 29 - October 7 
Poughkeepsie, New York

Lion and Lamb Tabernacles
October 1-9
Chandler, Oklahoma

Victory Feast of Tabernacles
October 1-9
Lake Palo Duro, Texas

The Gospel Worth Dying For Sukkot
October 2 - 8
Brownwood, Texas

Crandall Sukkot Celebration
October 2 - 10
Crandall, Georgia

Torah to the Tribes: Succot at Su-Coast
October 3 - 8
Cloverdale, Oregon

West Yellowstone Tabernacles
October 16
Yellowstone, Montana 

House of David Sukkot Meal
October 16
Fairland, Oklahoma

Ocean City Tabernacles
October 16
Ocean City, Maryland

Tabernacles: Lion of Judah Roar
October 16 - 23
Bradenton, Florida

Midwest Sukkot: The Rehearsal
October 16 - 24
Manson, Iowa 

Hebraic Family Fellowship
October 16 - 24
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Sukkot YES
October 16 - 24
Amery, Wisconsin

Feast of the Nations Dogwood Tabernacle Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Seymour, Missouri

The Father's Call Festival Oxnard
October 16 - 24
Oxnard, California

Living Messiah Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Hereford, Arizona

Grafted Church Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Hinton, Oklahoma

Church of God Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Grand Junction, Colorado

Feast of Tabernacles Lancaster
October 16 - 24
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Tucson Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Tucson, Arizona

Big Sandy Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Big Sandy, Texas

Season of Our Joy Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Longview, Texas

Kohala Coast Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Waikoloa Village, Hawaii

Rapid City Sukkot
October 16 - 24
Rapid City, South Dakota

COGNJ Feast of Tabernacles
October 16 - 25
Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania

Passion for Tabernacles
October 16 - 25
Roach, Missouri

New2Torah Sukkot
October 16 - 25
Huntsville, Arkansas

Texas Tabernacles: Catching Fire
October 16 - 25
Waco, Texas

Jacob's Tent Sukkot
October 16 - 25
Cleveland, Tennessee

Feast of Tabernacles Eau Claire
October 16 - 26
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Messianic Torah Observant Israel Sukkot
October 16 - 27
Cleveland, Tennessee

Beth Yeshua International Sukkot
October 17
Macon, Georgia

Messiah Sukkot West Coast
October 17 - 21
Fall Creek, Oregon

Oak Stone Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Denton, Texas

Building Families in the Messiah Sukkot
October 17 - 24
Molalla, Oregon

Feast of Tabernacles Syracuse
October 17 - 24
Syracuse, Indiana

Guardian Ministries Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Sparks, Nevada

Lake Tahoe Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Lake Tahoe, California

Rock Valley Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Murrieta, California

Discipleship Church of God Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Tooele, Utah

Common Faith Network Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Panama City Beach, Florida

Fellowship in Faith Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Hot Springs, Arkansas

Fellowship in Faith Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Kentucky Lake, Kentucky

Sabbath Church of God Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Yorktown, Virginia

Guardian Ministries Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
South Lake Tahoe, California

Oakstone Feast of Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Burnet, Texas

Feast Meetup Sukkot
October 17 - 27
Duffield, Virginia

Sukkot: Season of Harvest
October 17 - 27
Sunset, South Carolina

Truth Seekers Montana Sukkot
October 17 - 27
Troy, Montana

House of Aaron Sukkot Weekend Celebration
October 18 - 20
Eskdale, Utah

Feast of Tabernacles Celebration
October 18 - 27
Livingston, Tennessee

The Harvest Sukkot
October 18 - 20
Tabernash, Colorado

Beth Ariel Sukkot
October 18
West Hills, California

Restoring His Way Feast of Sukkot
October 19 - 26
Wewoka, Oklahoma

Solel Fellowship Sukkot
October 1-9
Otisville, Michigan

Messiah's New Life Sukkot
October 19 - 26
Avilla, Indiana

For His Name Tabernacles
October 19 - 26
Sterling, Illinois

Brazos Bereans Feast of Tabernacles
October 19 - 27
Glen Rose, Texas

Stewarton Bible School Tabernacles
September 18 - 25
Ayrshire, Scotland

Calgary Tabernacles
October 16
Alberta, Canada

Kelowna Tabernacles
October 16
British Columbia, Canada

Montagnac Tabernacles
October 16
Montagnac, France

Agra India Tabernacles
October 16
Agra, India

Feast of Tabernacles Sri Lanka
October 16
Negombo, Sri Lanka

Tabernacles Tallinn
October 16
Tallinn, Estonia

Feast of Tabernacles Cortona
October 16
Cortona AR, Italy

Feast of Tabernacles Mont-Tremblant
October 16 - 24
Quebec, Canada

Festival of Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Cumbria, England

Baguio City Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Baguio City, Philippines

CESA Feast of Tabernacles
October 16 - 24
Queensland, Australia

Tabernacles in Ghana
October 16 - 24
Cape Coast, Ghana

Feast of Tabernacles Western Australia
October 17 - 24
Mandurah WA, Australia

Nelson Bay Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
New South Wales, Australia

Tabernacles Taupo
October 17 - 24
Taupo, New Zealand

Feast Southport
October 17 - 24
Southport, England

Titisee Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Titisee, Germany

Kenya Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Kehancha, Kenya

Naivasha Tabernacles Celebration
October 17 - 24
Naivasha, Kenya

Tabernacles Gonubie
October 17 - 24
Gonubie, East London, South Africa

COG British Isles Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
Meath, Ireland

COG UK Tabernacles
October 17 - 24
King's Lynn, Norfolk, England

Do you know of an event that I don't have listed? Let me know so it can be added!

Related posts:
Six Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for the Fall Feasts
The Feast of Tabernacles: What it Means and Why You Should Celebrate
8 Things Scripture Says About the Feast of Tabernacles

The Myth and Meaning of 'I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach'

What did Paul mean by "I do not permit a woman to teach"? This verse from 1 Timothy 2:12 that seemingly forbids women from teaching or preaching or 'having authority over a man' has long been used to ban women from ministry or even speaking about Biblical truth in many contexts. While most Christian denominations have taken these infamous words at their English face-value, if we study the words used and the rest of Scripture we will be able to see that this was not a universal ban on women teaching, and that Jesus and Paul both treated women with respect and dignity, and not like the lesser beings that many today believe.

Let's take a look at how this New Testament passage typically reads in English Bibles:

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." -1 Timothy 2:11-14

It's easy to quickly read over those sentences from the NIV Bible and think that Paul is not permitting any woman, ever, to teach. Many denominations teach that because Eve was the one that was deceived it means that all women are gullible and easily deceived. Therefore, they cannot be trusted with teaching or exercising any kind of authority. 

Here we have the myth: women aren't allowed to teach. Period.

This one belief has held back millions of women from teaching the Gospel, and has brought a barrage of rude remarks and abuse on most women who do teach Scripture. But of course, the way denominations apply this supposed teaching of Paul is plainly at odds against what they believe he said. If women are so easily deceived that not a single one is fit to teach anything related to the Bible...then why is it okay for women to teach children or other women? Most people will point to "assume authority over a man," and make an assumption that Paul is saying that women just can't teach men. But, if the reason they can't teach is because women are gullible or easily deceived...why would they be allowed to teach women and children? Would that not be an incredibly terrible way to run things...to have deceived people teaching wrong ideas to children and then expect the children to grow up and understand faith and God's word? Would any denomination recognize that a teacher is deceived and then decide that they are fit to teach children and women?

However there is no caveat here that it's fine for women to teach children, their own or otherwise, or other women. Most people who teach this myth were taught the majority of what they know about God's word in children's Sunday school - and nearly all Sunday school teachers are women. I also frequently hear from women who attempt to teach me that women aren't allowed to teach...an irony so heavy that it's barely worth mentioning.

But you know what? That is not what Paul's getting at.

First of all, Paul frequently mentions women who are teachers and leaders in the early church movement, and he does so positively. Of all the people Paul offers greetings to at the end of the book of Romans, he only commends Phoebe, calling her a deacon and a leader (Romans 16:1). And he tells the people he's writing to, to support her. Most scholars believe that by listing her first, Paul is indicating that she is the one bearing his letter. That means that one of the most significant books in the New Testament was originally entrusted to a woman...which means once the letter was read, any questions about it would be directed towards Phoebe, who would then explain or elaborate on the meaning of Paul's words. Another word for explaining something would be teaching.

The second person he mentions in Romans is another woman, Priscilla. He calls her and her husband, Aquila, his coworkers in the Messiah. In Romans 16:12, he mentions three more women who work in YHWH, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis. In 1 Corinthians he encourages all believers to prophesy and speak in tongues...including women. Paul also points out in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 that men and women have equal rights in the marriage.

We have covered elsewhere that the notorious, "Let women be silent, they are not allowed to speak," passage of 1 Corinthians 14:34 was Paul quoting someone else's incorrect quotation of Biblical law. 

In light of Paul being supportive of women like Phoebe in leadership roles in the church, it simply does not make sense that he would simultaneously ban all women from teaching. We see that he put Phoebe in a position of teaching his letter to the Romans. This sudden ban also doesn't fit with the Old Testament, where we see women like Deborah, Miriam, and Huldah in leadership roles. Contrary to popular belief, the Old Testament never says that women can't teach or lead.

So what is going on in 1 Timothy 2:11?

We should note that Paul's letter is composed in response to questions and concerns that Timothy was dealing with at the time. This means he wasn't compiling a list of life advice or helpful hints to pastoring, but is referencing specific situations and events that Timothy was dealing with.

If you study the New Testament, you're probably aware that ancient Greek doesn't have grammar in the sense that we are used to in English. The word that is mostly translated as "a woman" is just one word - gyne (Strong's G1135).  Which does mean a woman, but it means a certain or specific woman. It does not mean all women. The significance of this is huge.

This changes the meaning of this sentence from, "I do not permit any women to teach," to "I do not permit that specific woman to teach"!

The meaning of 1 Timothy 2:12: Paul does not permit a specific woman to teach.

Further support for this idea comes from the rest of the passage.

"...she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." 

Many Christian denominations will tell you that because God made Adam before Eve, then the men of the world are entitled to do all the teaching and hold all the leadership positions, and women are forbidden from all ministry opportunities. But Scripture never says that Adam was superior because he was made first. Mind you, Adam was the second-to-last part of creation...are pigs and insects and fish superior to Adam because they were made before him? John and Stasi Eldredge teach in their book Captivating that woman being formed after Adam wasn't an insult or a sign of a lesser status, but that she was formed last as a fitting climax to the Creation story itself.

And if being made first is the issue here, wouldn't that mean that the pastor of every church should be the oldest person there? Should there be a ban on learning anything from someone who is younger than we are?

But why does Paul bring up that Adam was formed first? Well, if he's talking about a specific woman that Timothy is having trouble with, he's bringing it up because it ties in with the issue that he was addressing.

What many scholars believe was happening was that a certain woman in Timothy's congregation was teaching that Eve was formed first and that Adam was the one that was deceived. This information is incorrect based on the book of Genesis. So Paul was saying that he was not permitting this specific woman to teach, because what she was teaching went against the basics of what the Bible teaches.

This is a perfectly sensible approach to what was a bad situation for Timothy's community, and that's what I would want from any church or ministry...that they wouldn't allow any person - female or male - to preach incorrect information about Scripture, to anyone.

If we look at the passage in this light, where Paul is not placing a universal ban on all women teaching for all time, that makes sense with how he does support certain women who teach, such as Phoebe and Priscilla. Paul is not banning women from teaching, he's banning bad teaching.

We should also note that Paul is not banning all women everywhere from having any kind of authority over males. He's saying that he does not endorse this specific woman having authority, because she was wrong about what the Bible says. We know that Paul is not against women exercising authority or being in leadership. As mentioned earlier, he told the people in Rome to listen to Phoebe and be supportive of her.

A better translation of 1 Timothy 2:12 would be:

"I do not permit that woman to teach, because she lacks understanding about basic issues like Adam and Eve being formed."

I hope by now we can see that the criteria that Paul valued when it came to teaching was correct knowledge and understanding of the word of God and the work of the Messiah. Qualification is not based on gender. God used both men and women to teach his word, tell of his glory, to serve as prophets and leaders in the Old Testament and the New Testament and he still does so today.

Related posts:
The Truth About 1 Corinthians 14 and 'Women Should Be Silent'
Who Was Phoebe in the Bible?
Mary and Martha - The Real Meaning of the Messiah's Words in Luke 10