Lighting Shavuot Candles
On Shavuot, Jews light candles and recite the following blessings:Barukh Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melekh Ha-Olam
Asher Kid-shanu B'Mitz-votav, V'tzi-vanu
L'had-lik Neyr Shel Yom Tov
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has taught us the way of holiness through the commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Festival light.
Barukh Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melekh Ha-Olam
Sheh-heh-kheh-yanu, V'kiy-manu, V'higi-anu L'zman H'zeh
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
Decorating with Greenery and Flowers
There is a custom to decorate homes and synagogues with greenery as Shavuot is a harvest holiday. In the time of the Temple, the first fruits were brought on Shavuot.We also decorate with flowers as Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. It is said that although Mount Sinai is located in the desert, the desert bloomed with flowers when the Torah was given to the Jewish People.
Dairy Food
It is customary to eat dairy food on Shavuot. The most popular reason given is that we were given the laws of kashrut (kosher dietary laws) when we were given the Torah. While in Sinai, the Jews did not have the utensils needed to prepare kosher meat, so they ate only dairy.Others say that eating dairy shows restraint. When the Jewish People accepted the Torah and committed themselves to follow it, they committed themselves to leading lives with restraints.
Tikun Lail Shavuot
"Tikun Lail Shavuot" is the custom of staying up all night long on Shavuot to study Torah. Studying Torah the entire night is one way to celebrate the anniversary of its giving.Some say we study all night to compensate for the behavior of the Jewish People at Mount Sinai. They slept so soundly that they had to be awakened by God with thunder and lightening at daybreak to prepare to receive the Torah.
