Shavuot in United Kingdom

Many Jewish people in the United Kingdom observe Shavuot, which is the second of three major Jewish festivals that focus on historical and agricultural importance. The other two are Passover and Sukkot. Shavuot follows Passover by 50 days. Shavuot occurs on the sixth day of the month of Sivan in the Jewish calendar.

Shavuot is a Jewish festival that has historical and cultural importance.

©iStockphoto.com/Ella Hanochi

What do people do?

Many Jewish people in the United Kingdom observe various traditions associated with Shavuot. Some people say prayers and give thanks to God for the Torah (the five books of Moses), which they read throughout the night. Dairy products are also eating during this period. Dairy foods include cheesecakes, cheese blintzes (thin pancakes with cheese), and flavored milk. Many homes and synagogues are adorned with flowers and plants.

Some people also take some of their annual holiday during this time of the year to refrain from work on Shavuot. Some sources say that, according to Jewish custom, no work is permitted on Shavuot except cooking, baking, transferring fire and carrying objects or equipment.

Public life

Shavuot is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. However, some Jewish people may take some of their annual leave around this time of the year.

Background

Shavuot is the second of three pilgrim festivals and it follows the Passover by 50 days. It is also known as the Festival of Weeks, the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of the Harvest because it originally marked the end of the seven weeks of the Passover barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. At one time, Jewish men were expected to bring their first omer, or sheaf, of barley to the Temple in Jerusalem as a thanksgiving offering. 

After the period of Jewish slavery in Egypt, Shavuot also celebrated Moses’ return from the top of Mt Sinai with the two stone tablets containing the “Ten Commandments”. These commandments are the most fundamental laws of the Jewish faith. Therefore, Shavuot is also known as the Festival of the Giving of the Law.

About Shavuot in other countries

Shavuot Observances

Other holidays in May 2013 in United Kingdom

• Orthodox Good Friday ―Friday, May 3, 2013
• Orthodox Holy Saturday ―Saturday, May 4, 2013
• Orthodox Easter ―Sunday, May 5, 2013
• Early May Bank Holiday ―Monday, May 6, 2013
• Orthodox Easter Monday ―Monday, May 6, 2013
• Ascension Day ―Thursday, May 9, 2013
• Pentecost ―Sunday, May 19, 2013
• Whit Monday ―Monday, May 20, 2013
• Trinity Sunday ―Sunday, May 26, 2013
• Spring Bank Holiday ―Monday, May 27, 2013
• Corpus Christi ―Thursday, May 30, 2013