What is the proper greeting for Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It occurs on the first and second days of the Jewish calendar year.

On Rosh Hashanah, traditional greetings include “L’Shana Tovah tikatevu,” which means “May you be inscribed for a good year,” or simply “Shana Tovah,” which means “a good year.”

“Happy New Year!” some say, or “a happy and healthy New Year!” During Rosh Hashanah, you may also hear people say “Gut Yom Tov,” which means “Happy Holiday.”

A candle lighting ceremony is held to commemorate Rosh Hashanah. Each evening after sundown on Rosh Hashanah, girls and women in Jewish households light candles.

According to Chabad.org, Rosh Hashanah also involves eating sweet, festive meals such as wine or grape juice, raisin challah bread dipped in honey, apples dipped in honey, a fish’s head, pomegranates, and other foods.

In 2022, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sunday, September 25, and lasts until Tuesday, September 27 at nightfall.

One of the most distinctive elements of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar’s horn, a ram’s horn. The blowing of the horn is used as a call to repentance during the holiday.