Celebrate Sukkot

Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that begins five days after Yom Kippur. This year, it takes place from September 20^th until September 27^th. Sukkot commemorates the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert. The holiday gets its name from the word sukkah, which is a temporary hut-like structure that represents the structures the Israelites lived in during their 40 years in the desert. During Sukkot, Jewish people build and decorate a sukkah that they spend time in. According to Jewish Law, a sukkah’s walls can be made from any material, but its roof should be made of something that grew from the ground such as branches. Additionally, there should not be anything, such as trees or canopies, blocking the roof of the sukkah from the open sky.

In addition to building and dwelling in the sukkah, waving the lulav and etrog is another tradition associated with the holiday. The lulav is a bouquet made of palm, myrtle, and willow branches and the etrog is a fruit that’s similar to a lemon. There is a special ritual attached to this tradition with blessings that are recited. You can learn more about this ritual here.

Sukkot is one of the happiest holidays of the Jewish year. It’s a time for rejoicing and celebrating with festive food, music, and traditions. Additionally, the holiday is associated with hospitality, and it is customary to welcome guests into one’s sukkah.  

Continue reading below to explore ways you and your family can celebrate Sukkot at home. Don’t forget to share photos of you enjoying our crafts and activities on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram use #MuseumFromHome.

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Edible Sukkah

Supplies Needed:

· Paper plate

· Frosting

· Graham Crackers

· Pretzel Sticks 

· Gummies, candy, cereal, or jelly beans

· Parsley

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Etrog Box

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Supplies Needed:

· Cardboard box, gift box, or clean food container

· Craft supplies

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Welcoming Guests

Supplies Needed:

· Paper or cardboard

· Sharpies or markers

· Additional craft supplies

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Keep Discovering

Learn how to build a sukkah with your family here.

Get ideas for how to decorate your sukkah by checking some of our past crafts and activities such as wind chimes, magazine flowers, suncatchers, or papercuts.

Listen to a read-along of the book Sky-High Sukkah by Rachel Packer here

Explore kid-friendly Sukkot recipes here.