Sukkot

Sukkot is a holiday celebrated by Jewish people beginning on Monday, October 6 and ending at nightfall on Monday, October 13. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the protection that God provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt. Historically, Sukkot was celebrated by dwelling in a special hut called a sukkah, and incorporating four species of symbolic plants: the etrog (citron fruit), the lulav (palm frond), the hadass (myrtle branches), and the aravah (willow branches). A blessing is recited over these plants and then they are waved in six directions (right, left, forward, up, down and backward). As a part of Sukkot, holidays known as Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are observed and celebrated.