As the High Holidays wrap up, Jewish families worldwide joyfully observe the eight-day Festival of Sukkot. Sukkot starts five days after Yom Kippur and varies between late September and October, aligning with the Jewish calendar. Sukkot means ‘huts’ - singular is a Sukkah, and on Sukkot, Jewish families eat and spend time in the Sukkah, a hut like structure that Jews build themselves. There’s lots of food and fun, and Jews like to eat all their meals in the Sukkah that they built. The message behind this holiday is that the Sukkah is not a sturdy or permanent structure. So, sitting in this temporary structure, Jews are reminded of a very important lesson: No matter where we are, we are never alone.
To find family-fun local Sukkot Celebrations visit the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar.
The Traditions
On Sukkot, one of the very special customs is that Jews have a daily special service using four different types of plants – the ‘Lulav’ a palm branch, ‘Etrog’a Citron, the ‘Hadas’ myrtle and the ‘Arava’ willow.
They gather these plants together, holding them in their hands, and make a blessing. Each of these plants represents a different type of personality. So, when you gather them together, it’s like having four different types of people, some very nice and smart and some very simple. This teaches Jews of the need for togetherness. No matter what our talents, this ceremony reminds Jews that they are one people.
Learn more about the Lulav and Etrog
The Sukkah
Some families have a Sukkah at their home, and spend as much time as possible together in the Sukkah, beyond the meals. There are even some who bring the lawn furniture inside the Sukkah for comfort and lounging together. Sukkot is another holiday full of interesting and memorable rituals and traditions; a time for family and memories. With this in mind, it is worthwhile to think about how you want to bring the spirit and traditions of Sukkot to your family in order to create enjoyable, cherished memories of a tradition your children will want to continue. Even if you don’t have a Sukkah at home, try to eat at least one meal in a Sukkah.
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Ways To Celebrate with Family and Friends
- Invite family and friends to join you in your Sukkah.
- Make the Sukkah a family and friends event. And it’s not just about eating, plan for fun, games or just hanging out.
- Go visit a Sukkah together.
- Bring a special treat to eat in the Sukkah.
- Together with your child, bake cookies, make soup, candied apples or something fun to eat in the Sukkah.
- Make up silly songs. Add your own lyrics to songs, such as: This is the way we eat in the sukkah, eat in the sukkah, sing in the sukkah, laugh in the sukkah, etc.
- Plan for the bees and other bugs. Since it is Fall and the Sukkah is outside, plan accordingly for mosquitos, bees and other flying bugs. There are many ideas for eliminating or preventing the bugs from bothering the Sukkah, some more eco-friendly than others.
- Include your children in building the Sukkah. If your family has your own Sukkah, include them in building it. Get a child sized tool belt and hammer and allow them to bang something. And then compliment them on the great work. Of course, it will take longer to build because when they help, but that is all part of creating family memories.
Learn more about Sukkot for kids
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Décor for the Sukkah
- Some Sukkahs have decorations to make the Sukkah look extra beautiful and personal. Even if you will not be having a sukkah at your own home, you and your children can create decorations to brighten someone else’s Sukkah.
- Since Sukkot is during Fall when rain and wind is a real possibility, it is best to make decorations that can handle the weather. Almost any paper poster can be laminated to withstand the elements.
- If your family does have your own sukkah, create decorations that you can take out every year. Date them so you remember how old the children were when they made them.
- Take a picture of anything your child has made and actually print it and keep in the holiday keepsake box.
- Family mementos. Add new decorations that have meaning to your family, sort of like those charm bracelets. If you’ve been on a trip recently, hang up a souvenir, bring out old family treasures. These make great family conversations. You can create a new family tradition of purchasing souvenirs from your travels and family trips to include in your Sukkah decorations.
- Repurpose old CDs. Place 2 CDs back to back so that both sides are shiny and glisten in the sun. Decorate with craft glue and shiny gems or stickers. Tie together with ribbons, as a garland or hang from the roof of the Sukkah.
- Strawberry baskets. Weave plastic ribbon through a strawberry basket. Add plastic fruit or other trinkets.
- Sun catchers pour lots of white glue into the flat caps of large cans—like coffee cans or Pringles cans. Your child can throw in some sequins, colorful translucent beads. Allow a few days to dry thoroughly. Poke a hole and attach a string. Attach to the Sukkah roof.
- Rope Lights. Attach rope like lights to add a decorative touch.
- Get some string and hang seasonal fruit.
- Make colorful paper chains to decorate.
Learn more
- All about Sukkot
- What is Sukkot?
- Kids guide to Sukkot
- Sukkot stories for kids
- Sukkot videos for kids
- 7 Children’s Books About Sukkot
- How to Build a Sukkah With Your Family
- Tips For Building Your Sukkah
- How to Shake the Lulav
Super Easy Sukkot Dinner Ideas
Children's Sukkot Crafts and Coloring Pages
7 No-Waste Decorations to Make For Your Sukkah
Happy Sukkot Macaroni KID Families!! |
Contributions by Leah Lang, Gan Camarillo Preschool in Camarillo, visit Gan Camarillo Preschool's blog
This previously shared article has been edited and updated by Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas
