The Autumnal festival of Rosh Hashana, which marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year, falls on the evening of Sunday, 13 September, and the celebrations will last until the evening of Tuesday, 15 September. According to the lunisolar calendar that Jews follow for religious observances, Sunday will herald the 5776th Jewish New Year.
Literally translated, the Hebrew term "Rosh Hashanah" means head of the year and is the day that the devout used to look back on the past year and reflect on the mistakes and looking forward to mending their ways in the coming year. The first day of the fall month of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in many different ways.
The devout do not work on the holy day, and instead celebrate Rosh Hashannah by blowing the Shofar, lighting candles and observing Tashlich. In a symbolic attempt at making the coming year sweet, people who celebrate Rosh Hashanah eat apples dipped in honey.
Tashlich involves walking over to a flowing water body – creek or a river – and emptying one's pockets into the river, which is symbolic to casting away your sins, and starting the New Year with a clean slate. It is also normal for devotees to wear white Kittel robes or light coloured attires in general to symbolise purity and renewal.
On Rosh Hashanah, also referred to as Ha'rat Olam (the pregnancy of the world), you can wish your Jewish friends with, L'shanah tovah (for a good year). Or you can share this adorable video of this young girl wishing everyone a Happy New Year:
