About Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah — 'head of the year' — opens the Hebrew calendar on the 1st of Tishrei and begins the Yamim Noraim, the ten Days of Awe that culminate in Yom Kippur. It is held to be the anniversary of the creation of humanity and a day on which the world is judged. The holiday's central rite is the sounding of the shofar — a ram's horn blown in synagogue, traditionally one hundred times — whose long, broken, wavering notes are meant to awaken the soul to repentance.
For a deeper historical treatment, see Rosh Hashanah — Wikipedia.
Home traditions are sweet by design: apples dipped in honey for a sweet year, round challah (the year coming round again), pomegranates (whose many seeds stand for many merits), and on the second night a 'new fruit' that the family has not yet tasted that year. Tashlich — the casting of bread crumbs onto running water as a symbol of casting off sins — is performed on the afternoon of the first day. Cards exchanged before Rosh Hashanah carry the year's signature wish: l'shanah tovah tikateivu.
Traditional greetings
The phrases below are the ones most often used to mark Rosh Hashanah in person, by phone, and on cards. The native-script column shows the greeting as a recipient would read it; the transliteration is for those who would like to say it aloud; the English column is a literal rather than a poetic translation.
| Language | Greeting | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | שנה טובה | Shanah Tovah | A good year |
| Hebrew | לשנה טובה תכתבו | L'shanah tovah tikateivu | May you be inscribed for a good year |
| Hebrew | חג שמח | Chag Sameach | Happy holiday |
| Yiddish | אַ גוט יאָר | A gut yor | A good year |
Design tips for printable Rosh Hashanah cards
Hand-printed cards for Rosh Hashanah reward restraint and specific reference. The notes below distil what the most thoughtful cards in the tradition tend to do — and what the most commercial ones tend to get wrong.
- Apple and honey — illustrated, not photographed — is the most legible Rosh Hashanah image.
- A pomegranate split open showing seeds is the more sophisticated alternative.
- A single shofar in foil gold against deep midnight blue is dignified and unmistakable.
- Round challah with seeds, viewed from above, makes a beautiful centred composition.
- Inside, leave room for a personal note — Rosh Hashanah cards are read carefully and kept.
A starting palette:
Five verses for Rosh Hashanah cards
Each verse below is short enough to copy onto a folded card by hand. They progress from formal to intimate; pick the one that best fits the relationship and the year you are writing into.
- L'shanah tovah tikateivu — may you be inscribed for a good year, and sealed for one even better.
- Apples and honey, a round challah, and a small handful of crumbs cast onto the river — blessings for your Rosh Hashanah.
- Shanah tovah u'metukah — a good and sweet year to you and your household.
- On the day the world is judged, may you be judged generously — as you have been generous.
- May the shofar this year reach what needs to be reached, and may the year that opens behind it be gentler than the one closing.
In the CardVerse directory
The full directory entry for Rosh Hashanah — including its calendar dates, source attribution, and any additional verses — is on the occasion page.
Related cultural holidays
Other holidays observed in the Jewish Diaspora family of traditions: