Rosh Hashanah

Culture of origin: Jewish · Cultural

Holiday sources: Iran · Israel · Judaism

Rosh Hashanah ("head of the year") is the Jewish New Year, a two-day festival on 1–2 Tishrei and by tradition the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. It opens the Ten Days of Repentance that end on Yom Kippur. The shofar, a ram's horn, is sounded as a call to repentance, and families eat symbolic foods for a sweet year. Many perform Tashlich, praying by water and throwing bread or stones into it to cast away their sins.