Shavuot in United States
Quick Facts
Shavuot, also known as the Festival of Weeks, is one of three major Jewish festivals.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Shavuot | English |
| Shavuot | Spanish |
Shavuot 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009Shavuot 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
See list of observations below
Many Jewish Americans observe Shavuot, which is the second of three major Jewish festivals that focus on historical and agricultural importance. The other two are Passover and Sukkot. Shavuot follows Passover by 50 days. Shavuot occurs on the sixth day of the month of Sivan in the Jewish calendar.
Shavuot is a Jewish festival of both historical and agricultural importance. ©iStockphoto.com/Matan Narkiss
What do people do?
Many Jewish communities in the United States observe special customs on Shavuot. These activities include reading the Book of Ruth or staying up all night to study the Torah (the five books of Moses). Many Jewish people also eat dairy foods during Shavuot. Many homes are decorated with various plants, including those with flowers. Special prayers are made and candles are lit on this day. Jewish confirmations may also take place at this time of the year.
Some Jewish people take some of their annual holiday during this time of the year so they do not need to work on Shavuot. Some sources say that, according to Jewish custom, no work is permitted on Shavuot except cooking, baking, transferring fire and carrying objects or equipment.
Public life
Shavuot is not a federal public holiday in the United States. However, some Jewish people may take some of their annual vacation around this time of the year.
Background
Shavuot is the second of three pilgrim festivals and it follows the Passover by 50 days. It is also known as the Festival of Weeks, the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of the Harvest because it originally marked the end of the seven weeks of the Passover barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. At one time, Jewish men were expected to bring their first omer, or sheaf, of barley to the Temple in Jerusalem as a thanksgiving offering.
After the period of Jewish slavery in Egypt, Shavuot also celebrated Moses’ return from the top of Mt Sinai with the two stone tablets containing the “Ten Commandments”. These commandments are the most fundamental laws of the Jewish faith. Therefore, Shavuot is also known as the Festival of the Giving of the Law.
About Shavuot in other countries
Read more about Shavuot.Shavuot Observances
Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | May 21 | 1980 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Jun 8 | 1981 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 28 | 1982 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 18 | 1983 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Jun 6 | 1984 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 26 | 1985 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Jun 13 | 1986 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Jun 3 | 1987 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 22 | 1988 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Jun 9 | 1989 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 30 | 1990 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 19 | 1991 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Jun 7 | 1992 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 26 | 1993 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | May 16 | 1994 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Jun 4 | 1995 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 24 | 1996 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Jun 11 | 1997 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 31 | 1998 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 21 | 1999 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Jun 9 | 2000 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | May 28 | 2001 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 17 | 2002 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Jun 6 | 2003 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 26 | 2004 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Jun 13 | 2005 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Jun 2 | 2006 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 23 | 2007 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Jun 9 | 2008 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 29 | 2009 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 19 | 2010 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Jun 8 | 2011 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 27 | 2012 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 15 | 2013 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Jun 4 | 2014 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 24 | 2015 | Shavuot | Jewish holiday |
Other holidays in May 2009 in United States
- Law Day (Friday, May 1, 2009)
- Loyalty Day (Friday, May 1, 2009)
- World Press Freedom Day (Sunday, May 3, 2009)
- Rhode Island Independence Day (Monday, May 4, 2009)
- Cinco de Mayo (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)
- National Day of Prayer (Thursday, May 7, 2009)
- Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War (Friday, May 8, 2009)
- Truman Day (Friday, May 8, 2009)
- Confederate Memorial Day (Sunday, May 10, 2009)
- Mother's Day (Sunday, May 10, 2009)
- Confederate Memorial Day (Monday, May 11, 2009)
- Lag B'Omer (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)
- National Defense Transportation Day (Friday, May 15, 2009)
- Peace Officers Memorial Day (Friday, May 15, 2009)
- International Day of Families (Friday, May 15, 2009)
- Armed Forces Day (Saturday, May 16, 2009)
- World Information Society Day (Sunday, May 17, 2009)
- Ascension Day (Thursday, May 21, 2009)
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (Thursday, May 21, 2009)
- National Maritime Day (Friday, May 22, 2009)
- International Day for Biological Diversity (Friday, May 22, 2009)
- Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2009)
- African Liberation Day (Monday, May 25, 2009)
- International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (Friday, May 29, 2009)
- World No Tobacco Day (Sunday, May 31, 2009)
- Pentecost (Sunday, May 31, 2009)
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