Sukkot or Sukkos is the Jewish harvest festival. This holiday takes place on the 15th of the month of Tishrei (sometime between late September to late October), and occurs on the full moon (the Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar and many of our holidays start on the full moon).
The word sukkot literally means “booth” or “tabernacle” and the holiday is often referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles. After the exodus from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the dessert for 40 years and lived in sparse and temporary dwellings called “sukkot” –the holiday is to commemorate this period.
Sukkot is in fact a seven day holiday (eight in the diaspora). The first and second days are sabbath-like in observance (In Hebrew this type of day is referred to as yom tov , which literally means, good day). The eighth day of Sukkot is called Shemini Atzeret (the word Shemini is a derivative of the word eight in Hebrew which is sh’mona). Shemini Atzeret literally means “the Eighth [day] of Assembly.”
The holiday immediately following Sukkot in the Diaspora is Simchat Torah (or, “Joy of the Torah”). In Israel, Simchat Torah is celebrated on Shemini Atzeret –are you following this? It’s a bit complicated, even if you are Jewish.
We eat in the sukkah (or booth) during Succot, to celebrate the harvest, and we hang all sorts of beautiful gourds and such to decorate it. We also recite blessings over the lulav and etrog.
- Bubby’s Cucumber Salad
- Cabbage Orange Salad
- Rosemary Apple Chicken
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Spinach Cake
- Acorn Squash with Cranberry Apple Stuffing
- Paleo Honey Cake
- Paleo Pumpkin Bread
What are you serving for Sukkot? What else do any of you want to share about your experiences with this amazing holiday?
Maria Bear says
Love the picture!
We learned about the jewish tradition from reading a book to the kids:
“All of a Kind Family” author is Sydney Taylor.
Your kids would enjoy it. It’s a turn of the century Jewish family.
Tui says
Our family loves sukkot too! Besides all the schlepping down three flights of stairs with everything we needed, it is a lot of fun. I served your chocolate orange torte for desert, as we sat and the rain dripped in through the palm leaves, it was a beautiful moment, to feel the first rain in Jerusalem and to end the meal on a sweet note. Loving you site x
andrea says
This was a great post, I love when you share information on the Jewish Holidays and Feasts! As I was driving through the Colorado College campus today on the way to the Colorado Farm and Art Market I saw a Sukkot set up on the campus lawn…I was so thrilled to look at it and know what it was!!!
Jan J. says
I also love hearing about the traditions and ceremonies of other religions. My children and I are Christian, but I make it a point to teach my kids as much as I can about other religions and we often use cooking as a way to explore other cultures in our homeschool. This is a beautiful celebration – we will try some of the recipes listed!
Aidel.K says
I wish I’d seen these recipes earlier, but they will help with me with last days. My favorite new recipe I tried this year was chocolate bark with pomegranate seeds. One of my FB friends posted it–super easy: just melt chocolate (I used decadent Scharffenberger), spread on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. After it hardens, break into chunks. We all loved it.
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
how beautiful!! how cool that it’s a lunar calendar:)
Karina says
That’s really neat that you celebrate all of the Jewish holidays! I learned about them in a World Relgions course last semester, so I was able to follow you here :)
Mark says
I love a good history lesson. You never get to hear about this kind of stuff. Thanks!
CJ at Food Stories says
I love learning about various cultures & traditions … Very interesting :-)
Yaelian says
Chag Succoth sameah Ilana! Your succah looks very nice;much nicer than the cheap,plastic made in China-succas that so many use here….