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Holidays
Rosh Hashanah
What does Rosh Hashanah celebrate?
Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish religious holiday. It celebrates the Jewish New Year as well as the creation of the world.
When is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?
Rosh Hashanah generally falls in the month of September, but can actually be between September 5th and October 5th. It always occurs 163 days after Passover. It also never falls on a Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday.
Who celebrates this day?
This day is celebrated by Jewish people who follow the religion of Judaism.
What do people do to celebrate?
Rosh Hashanah is generally a time of spiritual reflection and prayer. A special horn called a shofar is blown to signal the start of the new year.
People often send cards and have gatherings of relatives on this day. They eat traditional foods that may vary depending on where they live but will often include bread called challah and sweets such as apples and honey.
Many Jewish people also perform a ceremony called Tashlikh. In this ceremony the sins of the previous year are "cast off" into a body of water like a river or ocean. The ceremony is usually performed by people walking into the water and emptying out their pockets. They usually have pieces of bread in their pockets.
History of Rosh Hashanah
Some form of Rosh Hashanah has been practiced for thousands of years by the Jewish people. Although Rosh Hashanah as we know it today is not mentioned in the Bible, a festival or a holiday at the start of the New Year dates back to Biblical times. A holiday at the start of the month of Tishri is also discussed in the Torah including the blowing of the shofar horn.
Fun Facts About Rosh Hashanah
- The blowing of the shofar horn has specific requirements. Exactly 100 notes is blown each day.
- Jewish people are not supposed to work on this holiday.
- People often greet each other on this day by saying "L'shanah tovah" which means "for a good year".
- The holiday officially begins at nightfall.
- It occurs during the Jewish month of Tishri.
- It is considered one of the High Holy days or Days of Awe.
Rosh Hashanah Dates
- September 16, 2012
- September 5, 2013
- September 25, 2014
- September 14, 2015
- October 3, 2016
- September 21, 2017
- September 10, 2018
- September 30, 2019
September Holidays
Labor Day
Grandparents Day
Patriot Day
Constitution Day and Week
Rosh Hashanah
Talk Like a Pirate Day
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