Shavous
Proper noun A major Jewish festival that occurs on the 6th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (usually in late May or early June). It commemorates the giving of the Torah (the Five Books of Moses) and the Ten Commandments to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, an event considered the foundation of Jewish law and covenant. The festival also has an agricultural significance, marking the conclusion of the counting of the Omer and the beginning of the wheat harvest.
Shavous is used as the name of the specific holiday. It is often preceded by the definite article "the" (e.g., "during Shavous" or "for the Shavous holiday").
- The community gathers in the synagogue to read the Book of Ruth on Shavous.
- Preparations for Shavous include decorating the home with greenery.
- It is a tradition to eat dairy foods on Shavous.
- "The festival of Shavous": A more formal or descriptive way to name the holiday.
- The festival of Shavous is one of the three pilgrimage festivals in Judaism.
- "Shavous night": Refers to the evening when the holiday begins, often associated with special study sessions called .
- Many students stay up all of Shavous night studying Torah.
- Shavuot: The more common modern Hebrew transliteration of the same holiday.
- Feast of Weeks: An English name for the holiday, derived from its timing seven weeks () after Passover.
- Pentecost: The Greek-derived name used in Hellenistic Judaism and later by Christians (Christian Pentecost commemorates a different event).
- Yom Tov: A Hebrew term meaning "good day" used for any major Jewish festival, including Shavous.
- Festival of Weeks
- Feast of Weeks
- (The) Giving of the Torah
The word Shavous refers exclusively to this religious holiday. It does not have other general meanings in English. Its significance is both historical (revelation at Sinai) and agricultural (harvest festival).
- (Judaism) Jewish holy day celebrated on the sixth of Sivan to celebrate Moses receiving the Ten Commandments