What Is Sukkot? Meaning, Dates, and How to Observe the Festival

Sukkot is the week-long Jewish festival of booths, beginning on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei—five days after Yom Kippur. It commemorates the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, when they lived in temporary shelters. Observance centers on two things: eating (and often sleeping) in a sukkah, a temporary hut with a roof of natural material, and waving the Four Species—the lulav and etrog. The festival runs seven days, immediately followed by Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. This guide covers what each element means and how to prepare, so you can observe the holiday or understand it well enough to participate.

What Sukkot Commemorates

The Torah describes Sukkot as a reminder that God made the Israelites dwell in sukkot (booths) during their desert wandering. Two layers of meaning are traditionally read into this:

• Historical: the actual temporary shelters used during 40 years of travel.
• Agricultural: Sukkot is also called Chag HaAsif, the Festival of Ingathering, marking the end of the harvest season in the Land of Israel.

Because of this dual character, Sukkot is sometimes called Zman Simchateinu—the Season of Our Rejoicing—and is considered one of the most joyful festivals in the Jewish year.

Where Sukkot Falls in the Holiday Cycle

Sukkot sits in the middle of the autumn festival season, known collectively as the High Holidays period:

In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are observed on the same day (22 Tishrei). In the Diaspora, they are observed on consecutive days. The first day (and second, outside Israel) of Sukkot is a full festival day with restrictions on work; the intermediate days are called Chol HaMoed.

Building and Using a Sukkah

A sukkah is a temporary structure with specific requirements. The key rules concern the walls and the roof.

Basic requirements

• Walls: At least two full walls and a third partial wall are generally required. The walls must be sturdy enough not to blow over in a normal wind.
• Roof (schach): The roof must be made of natural, plant-based material—branches, bamboo, reeds, or similar—that has been cut and is no longer attached to the ground. It should provide more shade than sunlight, yet be open enough to see the stars.
• Height: Typically at least about 10 handbreadths tall, and not so tall that the shade is ineffective.
• Location: Under open sky—not under a tree, roof, or overhang.

How it is used

The primary mitzvah is to eat meals in the sukkah throughout the festival. Many people also sleep in it, weather and health permitting. The sukkah is decorated—often with fruit, paper chains, and artwork—to beautify the mitzvah. The blessing recited before eating in the sukkah is Leishev baSukkah ("to dwell in the sukkah").

The Four Species (Lulav and Etrog)

The Torah commands taking four kinds of plants on Sukkot. Together they are called the arba minim, or Four Species:

The lulav, hadassim, and aravot are bound together, and the etrog is held separately. They are waved in six directions—north, south, east, west, up, and down—during the Hallel prayer and during the Hoshanot processions. The waving expresses God's presence everywhere and the gathering of the harvest.

A set of the Four Species must meet standards of quality: the etrog should be unblemished, and the lulav straight and intact. Because these conditions matter for the validity of the mitzvah, many people inspect a set in person or buy from a reputable Judaica seller rather than ordering sight unseen.

Key Customs, Blessings, and Foods

Customs

• Ushpizin: Welcoming symbolic guests—the biblical patriarchs—into the sukkah each night.
• Hoshanot: Daily processions around the synagogue with the Four Species, with special prayers for rain on Hoshana Rabbah (the seventh day).
• Reading Ecclesiastes: The Book of Kohelet is traditionally read on Sukkot, reflecting on the fleeting nature of life.

Blessings

• Leishev baSukkah—recited when eating in the sukkah.
• Al netilat lulav—recited when taking the Four Species.
• The standard blessings before and after meals.

Foods

There is no single mandated food, but two customs stand out:

• Stuffed foods: kreplach, stuffed cabbage, and similar dishes, symbolizing the "covered" nature of the sukkah.
• Seasonal harvest foods: fruits and vegetables associated with the autumn harvest, especially in Israel.

Preparing for Sukkot: A Practical Checklist

If you are observing Sukkot for the first time, work through this in order:

1. Confirm the dates for your location and whether you observe one or two festival days.
2. Plan the sukkah: decide on a location with open sky, gather or buy panels and schach, and check local rules if you live in an apartment or shared building.
3. Obtain a set of the Four Species early—quality sets sell out before the holiday.
4. Arrange meals for the festival and Chol HaMoed, including any guests you will host in the sukkah.
5. Check synagogue times for Hallel, Hoshanot, and the Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah services.

Common Points of Confusion

• Sukkot vs. Shemini Atzeret: Sukkot is seven days; Shemini Atzeret is a separate festival on the eighth day, with its own prayers (including the rain prayer). Simchat Torah follows in the Diaspora.
• One day or two?: In Israel, one festival day and one day of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. Outside Israel, two festival days and two separate days for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
• Do you have to sleep in the sukkah?: Eating is the primary obligation; sleeping is a custom many observe but is not universally practiced, especially in cold climates.
• Can you buy a lulav and etrog online?: Yes, but inspect the set on arrival—blemishes on the etrog or a split lulav can invalidate it.

Sukkot is best understood by doing: build or visit a sukkah, hold the Four Species, and share a meal under the schach. The festival's joy comes from its physical, hands-on character—temporary walls, open roof, and the harvest in your hands.