Last day of Sukkot in Australia

A lemon-like fruit found on a citron tree is one of the Sukkot symbols. ©iStockphoto.com/Channy Stern

What do people do?

Many Jewish Australians observe Hoshana Rabbah, which is the last day of the seven-day Sukkot period. It is a time for people to give thanks for their ancestors’ safe 40-year journey from Egypt to Israel, as described in the Torah. There are special services in Jewish synagogues, prayers are recited, and a special ritual involving the “four species” (plants) is performed. Some people also believe that Hoshana Rabbah is the final chance for people to atone for sins they committed in the previous year.

Hoshana Rabbah is the last day for many Jewish Australians to dwell in the sukkah but some traditional followers continue to stay in this temporary structure through to Shmini Atzeret, which starts after Hoshana Rabbah.

Public life

The last day of Sukkot is not a nationwide public holiday in Australia. However, many Jewish businesses, schools and organizations may be closed or offer a reduced level of service.

Background

The Sukkot period is a time to remember the Jewish people’s wandering in the desert for 40 years following their exodus from Egypt, according to Jewish teachings. It is also a time to celebrate the grape harvest. Some sources claim that Sukkot lasts for about seven days while others state that it is an eight-day festival.

The seventh day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabbah while the eighth day is known as Shmini Atzeret and the day after is called Simchat Torah. Hoshana Rabbah is known as the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashanah.

Symbols

An important Sukkot symbol is the sukkah. This is a temporary structure with a roof made of sechach or s'chach, which is raw, unfinished plant material, such as palm branches, bamboo poles, reeds or even corn stalks.

The “four species” are also important symbols of Sukkot and represent the blessings of nature. These are lulav (a green, closed frond of a date palm tree), hadass (twigs and leaves from a myrtle tree), aravah (twigs and leaves from a willow tree) and etrog (a lemon-like fruit of the citron tree).

About Last day of Sukkot in other countries

Last day of Sukkot Observances

Related holidays

• First day of Sukkot–Saturday, October 3, 2009
• Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah–Saturday, October 10, 2009
• Rosh Hashana–Saturday, September 19, 2009

Other holidays in October 2009 in Australia

• First day of Sukkot (Saturday, October 3, 2009)
• Feast of St Francis of Assisi (Sunday, October 4, 2009)
• Labour Day (Monday, October 5, 2009)
• Labour Day (Monday, October 5, 2009)
• Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah (Saturday, October 10, 2009)
• Diwali/Deepavali (Saturday, October 17, 2009)
• Halloween (Saturday, October 31, 2009)

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