Sukkot begins at sundown on September 25, and it’s one of our favorite Jewish holidays for a very simple reason: it’s about getting together.
Sukkot is the Jewish harvest holiday, traditionally celebrated by spending time in a sukkah, enjoying the fall harvest, waving the lulav and etrog, and welcoming friends and family. It’s also known as z’man simchateinu (the season of our joy).
And while there are plenty of traditions to learn about, you don’t need to know all the rules or build the world’s fanciest sukkah to make Sukkot part of your year.
Here are a few easy ways to celebrate:
1. Spend some time in a sukkah
If you have a sukkah, great! Decorate it with fruit, greenery, lights, homemade decorations, or whatever makes it feel like yours. Then eat a meal, have a drink or just hang out with friends inside it.
Don’t have a sukkah? Look for one at a local synagogue, Jewish community center or community gathering. You can also learn more about what goes into building one with My Jewish Learning’s guide to the sukkah.
The sukkah is temporary by design. It reminds us that home isn’t only about four walls. It’s also about the people we welcome in.
2. Invite people over
One of the traditions of Sukkot is ushpizin (guests), welcoming people into the sukkah. Traditionally, each night of Sukkot is associated with a different biblical guest, but the idea is pretty easy to bring into your own life: make room for people.
Invite friends over for dinner. Have neighbors stop by for dessert. Ask someone you haven’t seen in a while to join you. Invite the new couple you met at Shabbat last month.
Sukkot is a great excuse to gather people who might not otherwise end up around the same table.
3. Eat something delicious
Sukkot is a harvest holiday, so fall food feels right at home here. Think apples, squash, pumpkin, pomegranates, figs, grapes, fresh herbs, and anything else that looks good at the farmers market.
You don’t need a special Sukkot recipe, either. Make your favorite fall dinner and eat it outside with people you love.
For more inspiration, check out the Jewish Food Society’s collection of Sukkot recipes, which brings together recipes and family stories from Jewish communities around the world.
4. Try the lulav and etrog
The lulav and etrog are some of the most recognizable symbols of Sukkot. The lulav is a bundle of palm, myrtle, and willow branches, and the etrog is a fragrant citrus fruit. Together, they’re known as the Four Species.
During Sukkot, they’re traditionally held and waved in different directions as part of the holiday rituals.
If you’ve never done it before, this is a great year to give it a try. Ask someone at your synagogue or Jewish community to show you how, or check out My Jewish Learning’s guide to the lulav and etrog.
5. Get outside
There is something especially nice about celebrating Sukkot outside. Take a walk, go apple picking, have a picnic, hike somewhere beautiful, or just sit on your porch with a cup of coffee.
The holiday’s connection to the harvest makes it a natural time to slow down and notice the season we’re in. Reform Judaism has some great ideas for connecting with the outdoors during Sukkot.
And if you happen to be somewhere beautiful, bring your Jewish life with you. There’s no reason a hike, a picnic or a weekend away can’t be part of the celebration.
6. Celebrate without a sukkah
Living in an apartment? Don’t have a backyard? Running out of time before the holiday?
You can still celebrate Sukkot.
Have dinner with friends. Put some fall fruit on your table. Learn about the holiday. Visit someone else’s sukkah. Take a walk. Make a special meal. Find a community event near you.
There are lots of ways to participate in Sukkot, and they don’t all require a sukkah in your backyard.
7. Make Sukkot your own
We love Jewish traditions because they’ve been carried from generation to generation, but we also get to decide what they look like in our own lives.
Maybe your Sukkot is a big dinner with 20 friends. Maybe it’s dinner on the patio with your partner. Maybe you’re building your first sukkah. Maybe you’re joining a community celebration and learning something you’ve never tried before.
There’s no single right way to celebrate.
So this Sukkot, make some room, invite some people, eat something good, and spend a little time enjoying the season.
Chag Sukkot Sameach! 🌿🍋✨
Need a little more inspiration? Use our Sukkot Celebration Guide to explore ideas for creating your own meaningful experience.
