Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles, is one of the most joyful and meaningful holidays in the Jewish calendar. It combines deep spiritual lessons with family traditions, outdoor living, delicious food, and community celebrations. 

Falling in the autumn, just five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is a week-long holiday that brings Jewish families together to reflect on gratitude, humility, and the beauty of life’s simple blessings.

This guide will walk you through the essentials of Sukkot — its history, traditions, food, symbolism, and modern ways to celebrate — so you can fully appreciate this unique festival.

What Is Sukkot?

Sukkot is a biblical Jewish holiday that lasts seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora. The name “Sukkot” comes from the word sukkah (plural sukkot), which means a temporary booth or hut. These huts symbolize the fragile shelters the Israelites lived in during their 40-year journey through the desert after leaving Egypt.

Sukkot is also an agricultural festival, marking the end of the harvest season. In ancient times, it was a time of thanksgiving for the abundance of crops. Today, it is often called “Z’man Simchateinu” — the Season of Our Joy, because of the happiness and gratitude associated with the holiday.

The Sukkah: Heart of the Holiday

At the center of Sukkot celebrations is the sukkah, a temporary outdoor hut that Jewish families build and dwell in during the holiday.

Key features of a sukkah include:

• Temporary structure: Built with at least three walls.

• Schach (roof covering): Made from natural materials like bamboo, palm branches, or wood, allowing the stars to be visible at night.

• Decorations: Families decorate their sukkah with fruits, vegetables, hanging ornaments, paper chains, lights, and artwork.

During Sukkot, many families eat all their meals in the sukkah, and some even sleep in it. This act serves as a reminder of life’s temporary nature and the importance of faith, gratitude, and humility.

The Four Species (Arba Minim)

Another central mitzvah of Sukkot is the Four Species — four plants that are bound together and used in daily prayers throughout the holiday:

1. Lulav – Palm branch

2. Etrog – Citron fruit

3. Hadas – Myrtle branches

4. Aravah – Willow branches

The Four Species are held together and waved in six directions (north, south, east, west, up, and down) to symbolize that God is everywhere. They also represent unity, with each plant symbolizing different types of people within the Jewish community.

Food and Festivities

Sukkot is not complete without festive meals enjoyed in the sukkah. Traditional foods vary across Jewish communities, but popular dishes include:

• Stuffed vegetables (symbolizing abundance)

• Seasonal fruits and baked goods

• Challah bread (often round, as during Rosh Hashanah)

• Hearty soups and stews to warm cool autumn evenings

Hospitality is a big part of Sukkot. Families often invite friends, neighbors, and community members to share meals in the sukkah, reflecting the Jewish value of hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests).

Joy, Music, and Community

Sukkot is unique among Jewish holidays because of its strong emphasis on joy and celebration. Synagogues and communities often organize festive gatherings, singing, and dancing. Some even host Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations — late-night events recalling the joyous water-drawing festivals of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

Sukkot Around the World

Though rooted in Jewish tradition, Sukkot has taken on unique flavors in communities worldwide:

• In Israel, entire neighborhoods are filled with sukkot on balconies, courtyards, and rooftops.

• In the United States, cities often feature public sukkot in Jewish centers, parks, and campuses.

• In Moroccan and Sephardic communities, elaborate decorations with fruit and mirrors are popular.

• In Eastern Europe, families pass down handmade sukkah decorations as heirlooms.

These diverse traditions highlight the global unity of the Jewish people.

The Spiritual Lessons of Sukkot

Beyond its rituals and customs, Sukkot carries timeless lessons:

• Gratitude: Appreciating food, shelter, and the beauty of nature.

• Faith: Trusting in God’s protection, just as the Israelites did in the desert.

• Humility: Recognizing life’s fragility by dwelling in a temporary shelter.

• Unity: Embracing diversity within the Jewish community, symbolized by the Four Species.

Final Thoughts

Sukkot is much more than building a sukkah or shaking the lulav — it’s a celebration of life, gratitude, and joy. It connects us to history, nature, and community, reminding us to cherish the blessings we have and to share them with others.

Whether you’re enjoying meals under the stars, decorating your sukkah with family, or reflecting on life’s deeper meaning, Sukkot offers an opportunity to pause, celebrate, and find joy in both the simple and the sacred.