Colourful traditions at Succot

Tonight is the eve of Succot, the Feast of Tabernacles. This seven-day festival celebrates the period  that the Children of Israel spent in the Biblical wilderness after leaving Egypt. Carpets, lanterns and embroidered fabrics are some of the objects you might find in the booths or succahs built by some communities, according to Unpacked:

Bukharan Jews (Central Asia): Bukharan Jews traditionally line their sukkot with richly patterned Persian carpets and embroidered textiles, creating an opulent, living-room-like space. In some families, evenings in the sukkah featured live music or singing.

Yemenite Jews: Yemenite Jews often build their sukkahs on rooftops, using woven date palm branches as schach. Decorations lean heavily on pomegranates, citrus, and natural produce — no paper chains here.

Syrian and Lebanese Jews: Families hang whole etrogim and pomegranates from sukkah ceilings, sometimes alongside garlands of fruit. Holiday meals feature stuffed vegetables and citrus-infused desserts that tie in with the harvest theme.

Greek and Turkish Jews: Balkan Jews build sukkot on balconies, sometimes cantilevered over the street. Interiors are decorated with white linens and blue fabrics, evoking the sky and sea.

Ethiopian Jews: Historically, Beta Israel communities did not build sukkahs. Instead, they gathered outdoors near rivers for communal prayers and agricultural celebrations during a festival that coincides with Sukkot. In Israel today, many blend traditional customs with sukkah-building.

Moroccan Jews: Moroccan sukkot overflow with embroidered fabrics, carpets, and hanging fruit like pomegranates, citrus, and grapes. Guests are welcomed with mint tea and pastries, and special prayers or decorations honor the ushpizin. These traditions remain vibrant in Israel and Moroccan diaspora communities today.

Iraqi Jews: Families build large sukkot in central courtyards, decorated with woven mats, hanging fruit, and colored glass lanterns that made the sukkah glow at night. Extended families often gather in one big sukkah.

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Wishing those who are celebrating the festival חג שמח!

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