Holiday Planning | Rosh Hashanah
The festival of Rosh Hashanah represents the Jewish New Year, or “Head of the Year.” The days of Rosh Hashanah are celebrated with holiday greetings, special prayers, and sweet, festive foods to ensure sweetness in the New Year.
Rosh Hashanah Traditions
On Rosh Hashanah, tradition includes family gatherings for the holiday meals, where they welcome a New Year filled with life, health and prosperity. On both nights of Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to eat foods that symbolize sweetness, blessings and abundance. Traditional foods include apples and Challah dipped in honey, which represent sweetness in the New Year. During Rosh Hashanah, the Challah is round and smooth, which represents the circle of life and the cycle of the New Year. Other customs include eating the head of a fish, pomegranates, and carrots. These foods are considered good omens, and are thought to bring success and happiness for the upcoming year.
