Chag Sameach! It’s Shavuot!
Shavuot is one of the key Jewish holidays and is incredibly important in the Jewish calendar. This biblical holiday, which usually occurs at the end of May or the beginning of June, was originally associated with the grain harvest. Today, Shavuot is more commonly celebrated as a day to commemorate God’s giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. “Chag Sameach,” which means “happy holiday” in Hebrew, is a common greeting used on Shavuot.
In Deuteronomy 16:16, this holiday (also called the Feast of Weeks) is listed as one of the three pilgrimage feasts to Jerusalem. We celebrate Shavuot by enjoying dairy foods and remembering God’s covenant with the Jewish people, and His giving them the Torah in the desert after the exodus from Egypt. Although we should reflect on our relationship with God any time during the year, this holiday is an especially good time to consider how we are growing in our relationship with Him.
I loved growing up celebrating Jewish holidays. I treasure the special memories that I have from Hanukkah, Sukkot, and Passover. However, we didn’t observe Shavuot with any traditional activities.
Shavuot is filled with meaning and beauty. It’s the day we remember God’s giving of the Torah, the start of the wheat harvest in Israel, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. However, as one of the lesser-known biblical holidays, many families don’t quite know how to celebrate it.
Let’s change that! Here are a few surprising facts about Shavuot and some fun ideas you can use to celebrate this holiday in your home this year.
Shavuot Trivia
Did you know Shavuot does not fall on a specific day of the year? All the other Jewish holidays have a date on the Jewish calendar. However, Shavuot is counted, not scheduled. It falls 50 days after Passover and highlights the journey of freedom from Egypt (Passover) to God’s revelation in giving His law on Mount Sinai (Shavuot).
Shavuot celebrates the time when God gave the Torah to the Israelites in the desert after leaving Egypt. It was like a wedding day at Mount Sinai between God and Israel (Exodus 19). Shavuot is also one of the three major festivals when the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Shavuot is a time to celebrate the wheat harvest in Israel – so the story of Ruth, which takes place during this time of the year, is always read during this holiday. It is special to note that Ruth was a Gentile who embraced the God of Israel.
Shavuot is the day the Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2. God gave His Spirit to the disciples, enabling them to share the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) and the gift of salvation through Him. Both the Torah and the Holy Spirit were gifts of instruction and empowerment.
Shavuot Traditions
Here are some ways you can celebrate Shavuot at home this year with your loved ones. These fun activities could become new traditions that remind us of God entering into the Mosaic Covenant with the Jewish people.
Mount Sinai Blanket Fort – Turn your living room into Mount Sinai with blankets and pillows. You can read Exodus 19–20 inside the fort with flashlights (to recreate the lightning and thunder!). Speak about how holy and exciting it must have felt to meet God on the mountain and the responsibility of learning how to receive and follow God’s law.
First Fruits Scavenger Hunt – Hide plastic fruits or treats around your house or outside to represent a “first fruits offering.” As the children find each item, they can thank God for providing these things for us. At the end, bring your offering basket to a place where you can gather to pray and thank God for all that He does to provide for you.
Dairy-Themed Dinner Party – Since Shavuot is traditionally celebrated with dairy food, invite friends over or encourage your children to help make dairy dishes such as cheesecake, mac and cheese, or grilled cheese. You could even bake some cupcakes and decorate them with “Torah scrolls” (wrap fruit leather as the parchment around straight pretzel sticks as handles). Take this opportunity to speak about how God’s word is “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 119:103).
Torah Pajama Party – Have a mini Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the tradition of staying up to study Torah. Stay up a little later than usual and read through some of your favorite Bible stories, especially the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah (Exodus 1–20). You could also read through the Book of Ruth. Have fun acting out the stories by putting on a mini play.
I pray you and your loved ones have a blessed and meaningful Shavuot this year on June 1– 3, 2025!
Written by Hannah, Life in Messiah staff
Did you learn something new about Shavuot? What is one activity you and your family might try this year to celebrate this biblical holiday?
The promise Jesus made in John 14:16 to “ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever” was fulfilled on Shavuot in Acts 2. Let’s take some time to praise God for the gift of His Spirit and pray that the Spirit would continue His work in reaching those who are not yet saved in the Jewish community.
If you want to learn more about Shavuot, Life in Messiah’s video on Shavuot is a great resource, covering the key Bible passages that talk about this holiday. You can also visit our feasts page for Shavuot: https://www.lifeinmessiah.org/feasts-shavuot.