Festival Dates

Jewish year	5772	5773	5774
Rosh Hashanah (1^st day) 1 Tishri	29 September 2011	17 September 2012	5 September 2013	The Jewish New Year and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance. We eat apple dipped in honey, symbolising a 'good and sweet New Year'.
Yom Kippur 10 Tishri	8 October 2011	26 September 2012	14 September 2013	Day of Atonement. The most holy and solemn day of the Jewish year. We fast and spend the day in prayer, atoning for our sins and asking forgiveness.
Sukkot (1^st day) 15 Tishri	13 October 2011	1 October 2012	19 September 2013	We build 'sukkot', shelters covered in greenery and decorated with fruit, to remember the journey through the desert after the exodus from Egypt.
Simchat Torah 22 Tishri	21 October 2011	9 October 2012	27 September 2013	'Rejoicing in the law'. The end of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the start of the new cycle. The scrolls are carried in procession, with dancing and singing.
Chanukah (1^st day) 25 Kislev	21 December 2011	9 December 2012	27 November 2013	Commemorates the rededication of the Temple at the time of the Maccabee rebellion. Candles are lit each night for the eight days of the festival.
Tu b'Shevat 15 Shevat	8 February 2012	26 January 2013	16 January 2014	The 'New Year of the trees'. We plant trees, and eat a variety of fruits, particularly those mentioned in the Bible.
Purim 14 Adar	8 March 2012	24 February 2013	16 March 2014	Commemorates the story told in the Book of Esther when Jews were saved from the threat of extermination. A carnival style festival.
Pesach (1^st day) 15 Nisan	7 April 2012	26 March 2013	15 April 2014	Commemorates the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Family and friends gather for a special meal, the seder, and read the story of Pesach. We eat matzah (unleavened bread).
Yom Hashoah 27 Nisan	19 April 2012	7 April 2013	27 April 2014	Holocaust Memorial Day. Special service and programmes on previous evening.
Yom Ha'atzmaut 5 Iyar	26 April 2012	15 April 2013	6 May 2014	Israel's Independance day. Cultural programme on nearest weekend.
Shavuot 6 Sivan	27 May 2012	15 May 2013	4 June 2014	We celebrate Shavuot as the anniversary of the day God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
Tisha b'Av 9 Av	29 July 2012	16 July 2013	5 August 2014	Candle lit memorial service on previous evening.