Rosh Hashanah is celebrated with special prayers and the sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) in the synagogue. It is a time for self-reflection, repentance, and seeking forgiveness. Traditional foods include:
- Apples dipped in honey, symbolizing a sweet new year.
- Pomegranates, representing fruitfulness.
- Round challah bread, symbolizing the cycle of the year.
- Fish heads, symbolizing the desire to be a "head" and not a "tail" in the new year.
Festive meals are an important part of the celebration, often including dishes such as honey cake, tzimmes (a sweet carrot and sweet potato dish), and gefilte fish.
For the occasion, people dress in their finest clothes, often in white to symbolize purity and renewal. Many also wear new clothing as a sign of new beginnings. Jewelry and accessories are chosen to complement the festive attire, and homes are often decorated with flowers and special table settings to enhance the celebratory atmosphere.
Families gather for these festive meals and recite blessings over the food. This holiday initiates the Ten Days of Repentance, culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
