Definition

Proper noun A major Jewish festival, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths. It begins on the eve of the 15th of the Hebrew month of Tishri and lasts for seven days (with an additional eighth day in the Diaspora). It commemorates the forty-year period during which the Israelites lived in temporary shelters (sukkot) while wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt, and also celebrates the harvest.

Usage

• Succos is a week-long holiday of thanksgiving and joy.
• Observant families build and eat meals in a temporary booth, or , during Succos.
• The pilgrimage festival of Succos concludes the cycle of the High Holy Days.

Advanced Usage

• "The joy of Succos": Refers to the commandment to be especially joyful during this festival, which is traditionally known as (the Time of Our Rejoicing).
• "Observing Succos": Encompasses the rituals of dwelling in the , waving the and (the Four Species), and reciting special prayers.

Variants and Related Words

• Sukkot: The more common transliteration from Hebrew for the same festival.
• Sukkah (noun): The temporary booth or tabernacle constructed for the festival.
• Tabernacles: The English name often used, as in the "Feast of Tabernacles."

Synonyms

• Feast of Booths
• Feast of Tabernacles
• Hag HaSukkot (Hebrew)

Related Phrases and Concepts

• The Four Species (Arba'at HaMinim): Refers to the palm frond (), myrtle (), willow (), and citron () that are bound together and waved during the festival prayers.
• Ushpizin: The symbolic welcoming of seven "exalted guests" (biblical figures) into the each night of the festival.

Noun

1. a major Jewish festival beginning on the eve of the 15th of Tishri and commemorating the shelter of the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness