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«Happy Sukkot» greetings & blessings

Find out the way to wish «Happy Sukkot» in Jewish and observe the religious blessings of the festival.

Published at Wed, May 29 2019 • Updated Thu, September 12 2019
Jewish faithful reading blessings related to the celebration of Sukkot.
Jewish faithful reading blessings related to the celebration of Sukkot.

How to address blessings and wish someone a Happy Sukkot?

Wishing Happy Sukkot in Jewish

The greetings and wishes that are used from the Sukkot observers are in accordance with the major message and meaning of the celebrations. The festival is the definition of enjoyment and happiness, thus, for this reason, the typical wishes have the same orientation.

The main wish of the festival is Chag Sameach which can be literally translated as "Happy Holiday" or "Joyous Festival". It can be addressed to everyone during the Sukkot festival.

Other common wishes suitable to use for family & friends

Sukkot is an ideal opportunity for family gathering and common celebration. Friends and neighbors are also invited to holiday meals at the Sukkah.

It is very typical for people to address greetings and wishes to each other when they meet each other, as well as to send messages to relatives and friends through emails, cards or via social media.

«Chag Sameach» typing the most common wish of the Sukkot celebration.
«Chag Sameach» typing the most common wish of the Sukkot celebration.

Religious blessings used on the rituals of Sukkot

Apart from the meals and the family gathering, Sukkot is characterized by a series of ceremonial practices that are taking place during the celebration period. Those are religious commandments that are executed privately or in synagogues.

Some special repeated blessings are accompanying those rituals:

Kiddush (sanctification blessing)

Kiddush means literally sanctification and is a purification blessing recited over wine or grape juice. The blessing addressed during this process are:

"Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe [...] Lord our God, with love appointed festivals for gladness, festivals and times for joy this day of the festival of Sukkot, the time of our gladness, a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt, because You have chosen us and made us holy from all peoples, and your holy festivals in gladness and in joy you have given us for an inheritance [...]"

Blessing for dwelling in the Sukkah

A significant commandment for the observers of Sukkot is to spend as much time as possible in the Sukkah. Many chose to overnight in this temporary dwelling while others have their festive meals in it. The following is a special blessing that should be recited in the Sukkah:

"Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah. Amen."

Shehecheyanu (prayer blessing)

Shehecheyanu means literally "Who gave us life" and is a Jewish prayer recited on special occasions. This thankful blessing is included in Talmud.

"Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us and enabled us to reach this season. Amen."

Blessing over the four species (lulav)

One of the commandments of Sukkot is to wave the four species (palm, myrtle, willow, and etrog). The observers bound them together in their hands and wave them to all four directions (East, South, West, and North). The blessing that accompanies this ritual is:

"Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to take up the lulav."

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