Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
1—2 Tishri 5765
Rosh Hashanah, which is Hebrew for "new year," begins at sundown on September 15, and is celebrated for one day (Reform) or two days (Conservative and Orthodox). It is the first of the "high holy days," or "days of awe," the most sacred period of the Jewish calendar. This 10-day period culminates in Yom Kippur. Together, these holidays are the only ones in Jewish ritual that are solely religious, rather than also marking a historical or biblical event. Rosh Hashanah's most familiar and visible symbol is the shofar, a ram's horn that is blown in the synagogue to herald the advent of the high holy days.
Recommended Reading:
In Reclaiming Judaism as a Spiritual Practice: Holy Days and Shabbat (Jewish Lights, Sept.),Rabbi Goldie Milgram encourages readers to give themselves periodic "shofar blasts" at home to act as a spiritual wake-up call. Rahel Musleah's Apples and Pomegranates: A Family Seder for Rosh Hashanah shares special customs observed by Jews from Spain, Portugal, North American and the Middle East.
SEPTEMBER 25
Yom Kippur (Judaism)
10 Tishri 5765
The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered to be a time of prayer and repentance, when Jews ask God for forgiveness of any sins they have committed in the past year. During these "days of awe," Jews pray that their names might be inscribed in God's Book of Life, believed to be sealed on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is a solemn occasion that is marked by fasting, prayer and reflection.
Recommended Reading:
Simon Jacobson's workbook 60Days: A Spiritual Guide to the High Holidays (Kiyum Press, Aug.) offers quotes, exercises, prayers and historical information to help readers navigate the holidays. You Are My Witness:The Living Words of Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer contains excerpts of Rabbi Meyer's sermons from the Days of Awe (St. Martin's, Sept.).
SEPTEMBER 29 — OCTOBER 6
Sukkot (Judaism)
15—21 Tishri 5765
Sukkot, also called "The Festival of Booths" or "Feast of the Tabernacle," is a seven-day holiday that is followed by Shemini Atzeret (October 7) and Simchat Torah (October 8). Sukkot recalls God's provision for the Jews during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and is a general celebration of the abundance of autumn. There is the custom of building a sukkah, a temporary house that is constructed of natural materials and has at least three sides. Its ceiling should remain partially open so the stars are visible through it and the sukkah can be decorated with the fruits of the fall. Many Jews eat their meals in the sukkah, and some sleep and study there as well. Shemini Atzeret means "the eighth day of assembly." A special prayer for rain is part of the liturgy, marking the onset of the rainy season in Israel and a critical time for farmers and others dependent on the forces of nature. Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah) marks the annual conclusion of weekly readings of the Five Books of Moses, and immediately begins the next cycle of reading with the Book of Genesis. The congregation celebrates by singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls.
Recommended Reading:
Since all Jewish holidays, especially the three noted here, revolve around meals, a helpful book could be The Essential Bookof Jewish Festival Cooking: 200 Seasonal HolidayRecipes and Their Traditions (HarperCollins, Mar.)by Phyllis Glazer and Miriyam Glazer.
OCTOBER 16
Ramadan (Islam)
Ramadan, the month of fasting, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During Ramadan, adult Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset; the early morning meal is called suhur, and the ritual fast-breaking after sundown is called iftar. The Ramadan fast is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (the others being almsgiving, prayer, pilgrimage to Mecca and confession of faith) and is observed by nearly a fifth of the world's population. After Ramadan is over, Muslims enjoy a festival called Id al-Fitr, which is a celebratory time of feasting, decorating and gift-giving.
Recommended Reading:
Asma Hasan's Why I Am a Muslim: An American Odyssey (Element, Feb.) provides a refreshing first-hand glimpse of what it means to be a 21st-century Muslim in America. Attention, religion publishers: there is still no comprehensive English-language guide to Ramadan for adults, though several children's books are available.
OCTOBER 31
Halloween/Samhain (Neo-Paganism)
Christian and pagan traditions mark October 31 as a special day. Halloween has its roots in an ancient Celtic harvest festival called Samhain, which honored the spirits of those who had died in the previous year. Christianity co-opted the festival, designating November 1 as a day to remember the Saints (all of the "hallowed"). This day is known as All Saints' Day, and the night before it is All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween. The tradition of donning costumes on Halloween seems to have arisen from a belief that the living must be disguised to fool the malevolent spirits—witches, ghosts, goblins and ghouls—who are at large on Halloween.
Recommended Reading:
For more on the neo-pagan celebration of Halloween and Samhain, see Sandra Kynes's A Year of Ritual: Sabbats & Esbats for Solitaries & Covens (Llewellyn, Sept.). For suggestions on how Christians might have fun with the holiday without appropriating its pagan elements, try Redeeming Halloween by Kim Wier and Pam McCune (Tyndale, Sept.).
