Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Sukkot (Succot, Succoth, Sukkoth), which is the start of the Sukkot period. This period, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, lasts for about seven days. It is observed during the week starting on 15th day of Tishri (or Tishrei), which is the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar.
Is First Day of Sukkot a Public Holiday?
First Day of Sukkot is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.
Many Jewish Americans build a temporary booth known as the sukkah, which is where they eat, sleep and use for the Sukkot period, which lasts for about seven days. The first day of Sukkot is kept like the Sabbath so many Jewish people do not engage in certain work activities on this day. The rest of the days during the Sukkot period are days when work is permitted.
Many Jewish people in north-east United States hang dry squash and corn in the sukkah to decorate it. These vegetables are sometimes used for Halloween and Thanksgiving afterwards. Building and decorating a sukkah prior to Sukkot is a fun project for many Jewish Americans, in a similar fashion to decorating the Christmas tree prior to Christmas Day. Many also observe a religious duty, or mitzvah, known as waving the four species (of plants) and reciting a blessing. This deed is usually performed each day during Sukkot (except for the Sabbath).
Public Life
The first day of Sukkot is a not a nationwide public holiday in the United States. However, many Jewish businesses, schools and organizations may be closed or offer a reduced level of service.
Background
The Sukkot period is a time to remember the Jewish people’s wandering in the desert for 40 years following their exodus from Egypt, according to Jewish teachings. It is also a time to celebrate the grape harvest. Some sources claim that Sukkot lasts for about seven days while others state that it is an eight-day festival. The seventh day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabbah while the eighth day is known as Shmini Atzeret and the day after is called Simchat Torah.
Symbols
An important Sukkot symbol is the sukkah. This is a temporary structure with a roof made of sechach or s'chach, which is raw, unfinished plant material, such as palm branches, bamboo poles, reeds or even corn stalks.
The “four species” are also important symbols of Sukkot and represent the blessings of nature. These are lulav (a green, closed frond of a date palm tree), hadass (twigs and leaves from a myrtle tree), aravah (twigs and leaves from a willow tree) and etrog (a lemon-like fruit of the citron tree).
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2016
Mon
Oct 17
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2017
Thu
Oct 5
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2018
Mon
Sep 24
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2019
Mon
Oct 14
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2020
Sat
Oct 3
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2021
Tue
Sep 21
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2022
Mon
Oct 10
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2023
Sat
Sep 30
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2024
Thu
Oct 17
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2025
Tue
Oct 7
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
2026
Sat
Sep 26
First Day of Sukkot
Jewish holiday
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.