What Makes a Rosh Hashanah Card Special
Rosh Hashanah is a very special holiday on the Jewish calendar, literally meaning “Head of the Year.” As a celebration of a new year, there are many traditional observances, rituals, and gatherings to mark its significance. That these are often symbolized by food—both that which is eaten together and more indirectly by images of the special foods—is no accident, but a reinforcement of cultural and spiritual practices. When you give a loved one or a friend a card to mark the holiday, you’ll often see very specific imagery and messages—both directly in language, and in the associated meaning of those special symbols.
Symbols and Their Traditional Meanings
Many holidays in this cultural tradition are celebrated by gathering together and sharing special foods. Below are listed some of the food items and their meanings, which will also be used in gifts and cards intended to mark the holiday.
Apples and Honey
These two items are often paired together on traditional greeting cards for Rosh Hashanah, but may also appear singly or grouped with other symbolic elements. They bring to mind the wish for sweetness in the upcoming year. Honey, is especially important as it is often consumed during traditional meals with special challah bread. This egg bread is usually eaten with salt, but during the New Year celebration, honey is eaten—again, with a wish for sweetness in our lives.
Traditionally, apples symbolize the roundness of the New Year, as well as the hope that it will be a fruitful time. They may be used as the “new fruit” that has not recently been eaten, since in many European and North American homes, September is also the beginning of apple season.
Pomegranates
These delicious and unusual fruits are commonly eaten during this time because it is said that they contain 613 seeds — the number of mitzvot in the Torah. These are the commandments or good deeds we are exhorted to enact, and thus, pomegranates are a sweet reminder of our traditional duties in the upcoming year.
Special Challah
As mentioned above, the traditional bread is often eaten with honey, rather than salt, at the time of Rosh Hashanah as a wish for sweetness in our upcoming year. Challah may be baked with raisins or other sweeteners to reinforce this wish. But another key difference in the bread is its shape. During the holiday, it is baked, not in a braid, but a smooth round or even a ladder shape. This symbolizes the hope for a smooth year, or the journey upwards to commune with god, respectively. When challah appears on greeting cards, it is usually in one of these modified forms, and is often paired with bees or a honey jar.
The Fish Head
Most western individuals not raised in the Jewish tradition might balk at this symbol, but it too is incredibly important in the celebration of the New Year. In many ancient cultures, the fish is a symbol of fertility or fruitfulness—this can also be symbolic of productivity and creativity. The fish head is a symbol of the wish to be a leader, rather than a follower in the upcoming year.
Shofar
This is a non-food element, but one of incredible importance that is often placed with other symbols on Rosh Hashanah cards. In fact, it may be seen as the single most significant element of the Holiday. It is a trumpet or musical horn made from the horn of a kosher animal. That animal cannot be a cow, because that calls to mind the sin of the Golden Calf. This sacred horn is sounded on both days of Rosh Hashanah, unless that falls on the Shabbat.
Other Popular Symbols
Some other popular images that hold significance for individuals celebrating this Holiday are the Walls of Jerusalem or the Western Wall. Both locations hold incredible sacred value within the tradition. The Tree of Life, Peace Dove, and Olive Branch themes are also very popular for New Year cards. You may wish someone a peaceful new year, a time in which to gather their blessings and reflect on the goodness in their lives, or a time in which to heal, love, and cherish those around them.
Special Rosh Hashanah cards are a wonderful way to let someone know how much you value them, both in the holiday time and all throughout the round of seasons. They are a fantastic way to connect or to reconnect with the ones you love during this time when wishes for sweetness, peace, and prosperity in the coming year are foremost in everyone’s thoughts. As well, they are wonderful reminders that, even if you are far from your loved ones, they are in your heart and thoughts during Rosh Hashanah, as you look forward into the new year, give thanks for what the old year has given, and take stock of all that is truly valuable in life.
Rosh Hashanah is a very special holiday on the Jewish calendar. Means literally “Head of the year”. I have just shared this blog with my all friends.
Growing up a Jew in the USA (and living in my 7th state of the union), I have never heard of a fish head being symbolic of Rosh HaShannah.
That’s not to say that that’s incorrect, however it’s absolutely not universal like the shofar, apples and honey, and the round challah.
Thanks for this post!
Mishka
will u make cards on Happy New Year 2015 Sms, Text Messages, Wishes, Greetings, Quotes, Sayings, Poems And Poetry.
Special Challah & The Fish Head is best 🙂
Good work done. Good collection.
Happy new year 2015 wallpapers
Came to know a lot about Rosh Hashanah.Really giving greeting cards makes the eve much more memorable.
The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals (parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. Many…
Thanks for the great post.
Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids
nice post
new christmas songs
very nice post.
i really share this post.
Nice article im loving it happy new year 2015 SMS & wishes
nice post sir happy newyear 2015 wishes sms
Thanks for this wonderful post.Truly helpful.
Nice post.Like it.
Happy Valentines Day 2015 Wallpapers
nice post..republic day images
good web
thnks for sharing
https://www.hacks2win.com
wow aweosme
Thanks for Sharing awesome post
Awesome post
nice articles and thanks for sharing this information with us
nice post
Thanks for this great post.
thanks for sharing
great
awesom
Wonderful information
nice post
I am very impressed
Thanks for shearing such a information with us.
Digital Revolution
your site give me full nformation about it
Nice Post Thanks for sharing.
your site give me full nformation about it
nice articles and thanks for sharing this information with us
Love Poems for Him Long Distance Relationship Must Check
Thanks for this great post.
nice post
I high appreciate this post
happy new year 2016 is coming soon it’s not so far. than be ready to celebrate with family and friend’s ,
and here are most beautiful collection’s of happy new year wish’s .
like as latest sms, poem’s , what’s app status , so lovely image’s and so on u want . https://www.new-year-sms.in/
happy new year 2016 is not so far so be ready to celebrate with your family and friend’s here are so lovely and beautiful latest 2016 HD wallpapr’s and image’s https://www.new-year-sms.in/happy-new-year-2016-wallpaper-free-download.html
Hai, it makes me feel how this card be used for my self. I want this card. Where can i buy it?
Appreciate the Post!
Great Looking Post
great post
This is useful. Thanks for sharing this post. Hope you continue providing useful articles like this.
thanks for sharing this post with us
I enjoyed over read your blog post. Your blog have nice information, I got good ideas from this amazing blog. I am always searching like this type blog post. I hope I will see again..
i like this blog