September

12

Saturday

2026

Rosh Hashanah

(Please Rate)

Holiday Type: Jewish holiday

Where is celebrated: Most countries of the world

Traditional Shana Tova card with a shofar

Rosh Hashanah 2026 – Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sunset on Friday, September 11, and ends at nightfall on Sunday, September 13. Known as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It marks the beginning of the Hebrew year and is a time for reflection, prayer, renewal, family gatherings, and hope for a good and sweet year ahead.

Unlike the secular New Year on January 1, Rosh Hashanah is both a celebration and a deeply meaningful spiritual observance. Families and communities come together to welcome the new year, reflect on the past, and look toward the future with hope and purpose.

When Is Rosh Hashanah 2026?

In 2026, Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Friday, September 11, and continues through Sunday, September 13. Jewish holidays traditionally begin at sunset, which is why Rosh Hashanah observances start on the evening before the first full calendar day of the holiday.

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Because the Hebrew calendar follows a lunisolar system, the corresponding dates on the Gregorian calendar change from year to year.

What Is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah literally means “head of the year” in Hebrew and marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The holiday begins a period of reflection known as the Ten Days of Repentance or Days of Awe, which culminates with Yom Kippur.

For many people, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to think about the previous year, consider personal actions and relationships, make positive changes, and enter the new year with renewed intentions.

Rosh Hashanah Traditions

Rosh Hashanah is observed through a combination of religious services, family traditions, festive meals, and symbolic foods. Customs can vary among families and Jewish communities, but several traditions are widely associated with the holiday.

Hearing the Shofar

One of the most recognizable traditions of Rosh Hashanah is hearing the shofar, a horn traditionally made from a ram’s horn. Its distinctive sound is an important part of Rosh Hashanah observance and serves as a call to reflection and spiritual renewal.

Apples and Honey

Apples dipped in honey are among the best-known symbols of Rosh Hashanah. The sweet combination represents the hope for a good and sweet New Year. This tradition is also why apples and honey frequently appear on Rosh Hashanah cards, greetings, and decorations.

Round Challah

Round challah is commonly served during Rosh Hashanah meals. Its circular shape is often associated with the cycle and continuity of the year. Some families also enjoy challah with honey or other sweet ingredients to reinforce wishes for a sweet year ahead.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates are another food closely associated with Rosh Hashanah. Their many seeds have made them a traditional symbol of abundance and good deeds, and their rich red color makes them a familiar element of Jewish New Year tables and greeting cards.

How Do You Wish Someone a Happy Rosh Hashanah?

There are several appropriate ways to greet someone celebrating the Jewish New Year. In the United States, simply saying “Happy Rosh Hashanah” is friendly and widely understood.

You can also say “Shana Tova” or “Shanah Tovah,” a traditional greeting meaning “a good year.” Another familiar form is “L’Shanah Tovah,” expressing a wish for a good year ahead.

For a warmer greeting, you might say:

Shana Tova! Wishing you and your family a sweet, healthy, peaceful, and joyful New Year.

Popular Rosh Hashanah Wishes

Rosh Hashanah wishes often focus on sweetness, health, happiness, peace, family, blessings, and new beginnings. A message does not need to be long to be meaningful.

Here are a few simple greetings you can share:

  • Happy Rosh Hashanah! Wishing you a sweet and joyful New Year.
  • Shana Tova to you and your family!
  • May the New Year bring you peace, good health, and happiness.
  • Wishing you a year filled with love, blessings, and sweet moments.
  • May your New Year be as sweet as apples and honey.

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah with Family and Friends

For many families, Rosh Hashanah is a time to gather around the table, share traditional foods, attend religious services, and spend meaningful time together. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with relatives and friends and send good wishes to people who may be celebrating from afar.

Sending a Rosh Hashanah card or digital greeting is a simple way to let someone know you are thinking of them. Traditional designs often feature apples and honey, pomegranates, challah, the shofar, candles, and messages such as “Happy Rosh Hashanah” or “Shana Tova.”

The Meaning of a Sweet New Year

The idea of sweetness is central to many Rosh Hashanah traditions. Wishing someone a sweet New Year goes beyond food—it expresses hope that the months ahead will bring happiness, kindness, good health, meaningful relationships, and positive experiences.

As a new year begins, Rosh Hashanah offers a meaningful opportunity to appreciate what matters most, reflect on the past, and look toward the future with hope.

Happy Rosh Hashanah

Whether you are observing Rosh Hashanah yourself or sending good wishes to family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues, a thoughtful greeting can help make the holiday more meaningful.

Shana Tova! May the New Year bring peace to your heart, happiness to your home, good health to you and your loved ones, and many sweet moments to remember.

More Cards

Coming holiday

   

Scroll to Top