Sukkot History

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, is a joyful harvest festival that commemorates the Israelites' 40-year journey through the desert after their exodus from Egypt. A central observance is dwelling in a sukkah, a temporary hut with a roof of natural materials, which symbolizes the fragile shelters the Israelites used during their desert wanderings and serves as a reminder of divine protection. Another significant tradition involves taking and waving the 'Four Kinds,' a bouquet of specific plant species: the lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), hadas (myrtle), and aravah (willow). This ritual is believed to symbolize God's presence everywhere.

The historical roots of Sukkot lie in an ancient autumn harvest festival, also referred to as the 'Harvest Festival' (Chag HaAsif). In the United States, Sukkot has been observed since the colonial era, with early Jewish settlers building temporary structures. While not a public holiday, some Jewish-run organizations may close during Sukkot. In recent years, there have been discussions about the holiday's connection to the American Thanksgiving holiday, noting similar themes of gratitude for the harvest. The observance has also been adapted to reflect local environments, such as the use of sugarcane and pomegranates in decorating sukkahs in the American South.

In America, Sukkot is observed in various ways, with the level of observance differing among families and communities. Many build a sukkah in their backyards, decorating it with fruits and lights, while others participate in synagogue or community events. In larger cities, Jewish organizations often set up public sukkahs for wider participation. Observances include sharing festive meals in the sukkah, inviting guests (known as ushpizin), and performing the ritual of waving the Four Kinds. Sukkot in 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, September 25, and concludes on Friday, October 2.

Top 10 Facts for Sukkot (Begins) in 2026

• For the 2026 observance, the festival of Sukkot begins at sundown on Friday, September 25, and continues through the evening of October 2, following immediately after the solemn period of the High Holidays.
• Building a temporary hut known as a sukkah is the central observance of the holiday, serving as a symbolic reminder of the fragile shelters the Israelites inhabited during their forty-year journey through the desert following the Exodus.
• The sukkah must be topped with sechach—an organic roof covering made of harvested greenery, bamboo, or branches—that provides shade while remaining sparse enough to allow those inside to see the stars.
• Sukkot is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, known in Hebrew as Shalosh Regalim, on which ancient Israelites were commanded to travel to the Temple in Jerusalem.
• The holiday is often called Zeman Simchatenu, or 'The Time of Our Rejoicing,' marking a shift from the introspective and serious nature of the preceding High Holidays toward a period of community-focused celebration.
• The ritual of the 'Four Kinds'—consisting of a palm frond (lulav), myrtle twigs (hadass), willow branches (aravah), and a citrus fruit (etrog)—is performed daily throughout the holiday, except on Shabbat.
• A tradition known as Ushpizin involves symbolically inviting seven distinguished guests from Jewish history into the sukkah each night to emphasize the themes of hospitality and welcoming.
• While Sukkot is biblically rooted in the commemoration of the desert journey, it also functions as an ancient harvest festival, historically referred to in scripture as Chag HaAsif, or the 'Festival of Ingathering'.
• The final day of the festival, known as Hoshana Rabbah, serves as a day of deep reflection and special prayers, involving a ceremony where willow branches are beaten against the ground.
• The conclusion of the week-long Sukkot festival leads directly into the dual holiday of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, which features the completion and restart of the annual Torah reading cycle.

In the News and Trending in the US for Sukkot

Top things to do in the US for Sukkot

• Purchase or make your own Sukkah. They are typically designed to be assembled and disassembled quickly - in less than two hours by two people.
• One can buy the four kinds (of material used to build Sukkot as per the Torah) or order them from Israel. The four kinds include palm branches, an Etrog (citron), three willow branches and two myrtle branches. The palm, myrtle and willow are bound together in a palm holder.
• See the movie Ushpizin (2004), with English subtitles. It follows a poor couple and showcases their effort to buy a beautiful four species set. Ushpizin can be viewed on YouTube.
• Read the book of Ecclesiastes or watch a lecture about it. It was written by King Solomon. It relates to the futility of life, apart from basic belief and being righteous.
• Attend a local Succot fair.