Symbols of the New Year:
One custom on Rosh Hashanah is to eat a round Challah instead of the normal braided ones to symbolize the circle of life. Apples, honey and pomegranates are eaten during this time. Honey is used in many dishes during this holiday to symbolize the want of a sweet new year. Pomegranates are eaten because of the many seeds that they contain. The seeds symbolize the 613 commandments that are found in the Torah. It is also a custom to eat a fruit that has recently come into season or one that has not yet been eaten (for at least 30 days) to symbolize the New Year.
Tashlich:
Tashlich happens on the first day of Rosh Hashanah in the afternoon. Jews go to a flowing body of water to say prayers and throw pieces of bread into the water. The bread symbolizes the sins from the past year. It is believed that just as the water sweeps the bread away, one's sins are symbolically swept away, cleansing one spiritually and giving one a clean slate for the New Year.
The Shofar:
A Shofar is a ram's horn and is blown on Rosh Hashanah. The three calls of the Shofar are Tekiah, Shevarim, and Teruah: Tekiah is a straight shofar blast, Shevarim is split into 3 shorter blasts, and Teruah is split into 9 very short staccato blasts. The Shofar is blown at the end of each service of Rosh Hashanah and is considered a wake up call. The great Spanish Rabbi Maimonides wrote that the Shofar blasts are saying, "Awake, you sleepers, from your slumber...examine your deeds, return in repentance, and remember your Creator."
Ten Days of Repentance:
The Ten Days of Repentance begin on Rosh Hashanah and culminate in the celebration of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Ten Days have been part of Jewish tradition at least since the 3rd century BC. They are a period of reflection on the past years transgressions. They give Jews the opportunity to ask for forgiveness from their neighbors, as well as give forgiveness to those who seek it. On Rosh Hashanah the book of life is opened, and on Yom Kippur the names are sealed in the book. The Ten Days give a grace period of seeking forgiveness, repenting and making resolutions for your actions in the coming year.
