Hennopspark, South Africa (PressExposure) May 17, 2010 -- In Israel the feast, now celebrated for more than 3300 years, is celebrated for one day but in the rest of the world Jewish families celebrate Shavuot for two days.
Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mount Sinai. The Commandments became part of the Books of Moses known as the Torah.
The Feast of the Weeks marks a culmination of a seven week journey. The beginning of the journey is Passover which marks the liberation of the slaves in Egypt. The journey ends with Shavuot, which celebrates the freedom along with revelation and acceptance of the holy Torah.
From the Feast of Passover Jews count the weeks towards Shavuot in anticipation of the importance of the Feast signifying the giving of the Torah and the Commandments to the people of Israel. The counting is known by Jews as the Counting of the Omer. Since the Torah and its contents were accepted by the thousands of people at Mount Sinai the people of Israel entered into a special relationship with God as a unique nation.
Most of the customs and tradition related to Shavuot celebration arose from legends and stories of the Israelites at Mount Sinai. According to one legend the people of Israel overslept on the day of the giving of Torah and Moses himself had to wake them up as God was waiting for them at the mountain. In order to rectify this, on the eve of Shavuot, the Jews do not sleep the whole night from dusk to dawn and keep themselves busy by reading the holy Torah and Talmud. This will happen after sunset on Tuesday May 18.
On the evening of Shavuot women and girls light candles to indicate that Shavuot has begin. After the holiday evening prayers families will enjoy a festive holiday meal.
It is believed that Mount Sinai suddenly bloomed with greenery and flowers in the happiness of giving Torah. To commemorate this event the Jews decorate their home and synagogue with flowers and branches. The Torah scrolls in some synagogues are adorned with flowers, mostly with rose garlands.
On Wednesday May 19 Jewish families will go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments. It is also customary to read the book of Ruth as the scene of harvest of wheat and barley described in the book are in correspondence with the Shavuot festival. The book also emphasises the desire of Ruth to become one of the Jewish nation. The Priests then bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing.
According to tradition on the day of the Giving of the Torah the Israelites did not have any meat prepared according to the rules of ritual slaughtering. Nor could they slaughter another animal on the day as it was Sabbath, the day when slaughtering was forbidden. So the people were forced to eat simple dairy products for the rest of the day. During the Shavuot festival the Jews follow this tradition by eating dairy products and cheese cake on the day.
After the holiday evening prayers, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of the holiday Kiddush (prayer of blessing), is enjoyed.
You can read more about the pilgrim festivals at Pilgrimsfriend.com