Shavuot is a major festival that usually falls in June. There is no prescribed date for Shavuot in the Bible. According to Scripture, Shavuot is celebrated the day after seven complete weeks from the day the first sheaf of barley is brought to the Temple as an offering to the priest (Lev. 23:11). Hence the name Shavuot which means "weeks." The first sheaf was brought to the Temple on the day after the Sabbath connected with Passover. Fifty days after this day was chosen as a festival day because the end of the barley harvest usually coincided with the beginning of the wheat and fruit tree harvests. The juncture of these three harvests enabled the Israelites to determine how prosperous they would be in the coming year.
A bitter controversy arose between the Sadducees and the Pharisees about the day to begin counting the seven weeks until Shavuot. The Sadducees followed the literal instructions of Leviticus. The Pharisees argued that since the first day of Passover was a day of rest, that day is a "sabbath." Today we follow the Pharisaic ruling. We start counting the seven weeks on the second day of Passover. In this way, 6 Sivan became the annual date of Shavuot.
The rabbis also associated Shavuot with the giving of the Ten Commandments. According to Exodus 19, the children of Israel came to Mt. Sinai in the third month (Sivan). Rabbinic interpretation of Moses' actions resulted in assigning Shavuot (6 Sivan) as the date for the giving of the Decalogue.
Counting the Omer
"Omer" (sheaf) is the name for the offering of a sheaf of barley that was brought to the Temple on the second day of Passover. The Omer offering was 1/10 of an ephah (2.2 liters). The day of this offering marked the first day in counting the seven weeks until Shavuot. Shavuot occurred on the day after the seven weeks ended (the 50th day).
When the Temple was destroyed, Israelites could no longer bring the Omer offering to the Temple. However, the practice of counting the days between Passover and Shavuot continued. A special blessing is recited in which the number for that particular day is mentioned. Some people hang a special calendar on the wall with the days of the Omer indicated. Sages have noted that the Counting of the Omer connects the holiday of freedom (Passover) to the holiday of law (Shavuot), conveying the meaning that freedom must be tempered by law.
Decorations & Celebration Tips
There are no rituals specific to Shavuot so there is no ordained way of observing it. One tradition that has developed is that of Torah study. Alone or in a group, one can study selections from the Torah and read and discuss rabbinic commentaries.
Another tradition is to light a yahrzeit candle for loved ones who have died and to attend a yizkor service.
Because of its agricultural roots, some people decorate their homes with spring flowers. Roses are traditional for this holiday because of a legend that Mt. Sinai was covered with roses when Moses received the Torah.
