FALL - DAY 6 - ROSH HASHANAH

DAY 6 - September 28, 2011 - ROSH HASHANAH!!

Shana Tova! Happy New Year to EVERYONE (no matter your faith)!!

( I will not take credit for this image, I found it online! Tonight was a last minute posting and I really wanted to talk about Rosh Hashanah! So Thank you to whoever this photographer is who took this great apple and honey shot!! - I'll try to take one of my own and add it soon)

I am not religious, and have unfortunately not been to the synogogue for the High Holidays in too long. Going to College and moving away from home interrupted the tradition, which is a pity because I would definitely say that Rosh Hashanah is my most favourite High Holiday. Though I missed the boat again this year, I will make sure I participate from now on.

But rather than apologize for my religious downfalls, what I really want to talk about is why Rosh Hashanah brings out such a happy feeling of nostalgia for me;

Rosh Hashanah means missing school to dress up in party shoes.

Rosh Hashanah means stepping through mounds and mounds of fall leaves on our way to shul.

Rosh Hashanah means collecting the best ones and pressing them to admire later, even though I never remember the "later" part.

Rosh Hashanah means holding my mother's hand and smelling her perfume. Scrounging for mints in her purse.

Rosh Hashanah means hearing the shofar being blown again and again. Feeling excitement, and empowerment but not really knowing why.

Rosh Hashanah means listening to the Cantor's heavenly voice, never understanding what he's singing, yet knowing all the words.

Rosh Hashanah means apples, honey and challah.

Rosh Hashanah means family and good family friends.

Rosh Hashanah means New Year. Fresh start. Clean slate.

To me, this is the more logical time for a new year. Maybe it's because of the new year of school starting at this time and being used to this throughout our lives? All I know is that fall gives us this general feeling of having a fresh beginning mixed with crisp air and fall leaves, and that's what Rosh Hashanah means to me.