A house, a citrus and a plant? Learn about Sukkot

Sukkot is celebrated to commemorate the 40 years the Jewish people spent in the desert on the way to Israel. It is held five days following Yom Kippur. It is known as one of the three pilgrimage festivals - which also include Passover and Shavuot.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable practices during Sukkot is the building of a Sukkah, which is a small outdoor "house" traditionally made of palm or bamboo. There have been many modern additions to the building of the Sukkah and they only continue to evolve as a custom. Most Jewish families will eat their meals in the Sukkah during Sukkot, others will also choose to sleep or even just relax in them. There must be at least two and a half walls - and the roof must be made of branches/leaves.

Sukkot is one of the longer Jewish holidays, spanning 8 days in the United States and 7 days in Israel.

But what about the citrus and the plants?

Well, Sukkot features another unique practice using items known as the lulav (the bundle of branches) and etrog (the citrus). The lulav is composed of pine, myrtle, and willow. The etrog is typically a large lemon, but can also be any citrus fruit. These items make up the four species of Sukkot, which are waved/shaken during various times. These items are used to represent the bounty of the Holy Land.