Sukkot 2027: The Festival of Tabernacles

Building the Sukkah

The sukkah is a temporary booth with walls and a roof of plant matter (schach) through which stars should be visible. Families eat meals inside — and many sleep there — for the seven days. The sukkah is decorated with hanging fruits, vegetables, and paper chains. It represents both the fragility of physical shelter and trust in God's protection.

The Four Species (Arba Minim)

Each day, Jews take and wave four plant species: an etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), three myrtle branches, and two willow branches. They are waved in six directions, symbolising God's presence everywhere. Each species represents a different type of person — together they embody the unity of the Jewish people.

Hol HaMoed and Hoshana Rabbah

The middle days (Hol HaMoed) are semi-festive, with families taking outings and communities organising events. The 7th day — Hoshana Rabbah — is the last day to finalise the divine judgment sealed on Yom Kippur. Special prayers are recited and willow branches are beaten on the ground five times.

Simchat Torah

At the end of Sukkot, Simchat Torah celebrates the completion and restart of the annual Torah reading cycle. Torah scrolls are danced around the synagogue seven times (hakafot) in a joyful, singing celebration. All children are called up together under a tallit for a special blessing — one of the most beloved moments of the year.

What are the rules for building a kosher sukkah?

A kosher sukkah must have at least two complete walls and a third partial wall (though most people build four walls). The roof — schach — must be made from plant material that grew from the ground and has been cut off: branches, bamboo, or wooden boards. The schach must be sparse enough to see the stars at night, but dense enough to provide more shade than sunlight by day. Pre-made schach mats and wooden poles are widely available. The sukkah must be a temporary structure. It should be decorated — with hanging fruits, paper chains, artwork, and children's drawings — making sukkah decoration one of the most hands-on Jewish crafts.

What are the Four Species and what do they symbolise?

The Four Species (Arba Minim) are taken together and waved each day of Sukkot. They are: the etrog (citron) — held in the left hand; the lulav (palm branch) — the spine of the bound species; three hadassim (myrtle branches) on the right of the lulav; and two aravot (willow branches) on the left. They are waved in six directions — east, south, west, north, up, and down — symbolising God's presence everywhere. Midrashic interpretation sees each species as representing a different type of Jew: the etrog has both taste and fragrance (Torah learning and good deeds); the palm has taste but no fragrance; the myrtle has fragrance but no taste; the willow has neither — together they symbolise the unity of the Jewish people.