Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Rain Dance

The week long holiday of Sukkot (Feast of the Tabernacles), came to an end with a large gathering, early in the morning, at the Western Wall. I use to think that no people could party more then Puerto Ricans, but I believe Jews take the cake. It seems like there is always a celebration taking place and this week was no exception. From what I observed, they end Sukkot in what I like to call, "The Rain Dance." Tradition has it, that this is the time after the Fall harvest, the people come together to give thanks for the crops of the previous season and then pray for another season of rain to have another successful harvest in the coming year. All believers are equipped with a willow, palm, and a hybrid orange/lemon fruit. Once they are done with the fiesta they finish it off with a thrashing of the willows. My Jewish history professor described it as a temper tantrum, but essentially they just smack the willows on the ground a few times and then call it quits.










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