Major Jewish Holidays Calendar List in 2024, 2025

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Major Jewish holidays are an integral part of the Jewish faith, and each year, they bring with them a rich tapestry of traditions, culture, and faith. They are also important to Christians for whom the Biblical holidays provide a deeper understanding into the Bible.

The Hebrew calendar is filled with significant festivals and observances, each with its unique meaning and customs that are important to Jewish life and Jewish community. This comprehensive guide to Jewish holidays with their dates in both the Gregorian and Hebrew calendar can be useful for planning your upcoming celebrations. 

One of the best resources for learning more about Jewish life, traditions AND current events is Chabad.org.

Jewish Holidays 2025 Calendar Printable

Jewish Holidays in 2025

Rosh Hashanah: Head of the Year or “New Year” (Tishrei 1-2, 5786)

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal. It is also one of two Jewish High Holidays, part of the yamim noraim (Days of Awe). It falls on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which is on September 22nd and 23rd in 2025 on the Gregorian calendar. Jews around the world observe this holiday by attending synagogue services, sounding the shofar (ram’s horn), wishing one another “Shanah Tovah,” and sharing festive meals with family and friends. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar.

10 Easy Tips: Celebrating Rosh Hashanah for Kids

Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement (Tishrei 10, 5786)

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish year and follows ten days after Rosh Hashanah, falling on October 1st in 2025. It is a solemn day of fasting and repentance. Jews seek forgiveness for their past deeds and sins through prayer and self-reflection. Many spend the entire day in synagogue engaging in intense prayer services and introspection. It is the second of the High Holy Days (High Holidays).

10 Tips: Yom Kippur Activities for Kids

Sukkot: The Feast of Booths (Tishrei 15-22, 5786)

Sukkot, often called the Feast of Tabernacles, is a joyful harvest festival celebrated from Tishrei 15 to 22. In 2025, Sukkot begins on October 6th and ends on October 13th. During this holiday, Jews remember the story of the exodus and build temporary huts (sukkot). It is a joyous holiday, where meals are eaten in the sukkah, and people wave the “Four Species” (etrog, lulav, myrtle, and willow), symbolizing the unity of the Jewish people.

10+ Easy Sukkot Activities and Decorations

Shemini Atzeret (Tishrei 23, 5786)

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are overlapping holidays that directly follow Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret is celebrated from Tuesday, October 14th to Wednesday, October 15th in 2025. It is a day of assembly and reflection when Jews pray for rain in the upcoming agricultural year, remembering biblical times and the dependence on seasonal rain for crops. In Israel, this day also marks the conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle.

Simchat Torah (Tishrei 23-24, 5786)

Simchat Torah, celebrated after Shemini Atzeret, begins at sundown on October 15th, 2025, and ends on October 16th. This day marks the completion of the Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new cycle. Jews around the world celebrate with joyous dancing, singing, and reading the last portion of Deuteronomy, followed by the beginning of Genesis.

Chanukah: Festival of Lights (Kislev 25 – Tevet 3, 5786)

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple. It is celebrated from December 13th to December 21st in 2025. Jews light the chanukah menorah, adding one candle each night to symbolize the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. Foods like latkes, sufganiyot, and egg bread are enjoyed, and many play dreidel and give gifts.

Tu B’Shevat: New Year for Trees (Shevat 15, 5786)

Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees, falls on the 15th day of Shevat, which is February 13th, 2025. It is a day dedicated to ecological awareness, and the Jewish people often plant trees and enjoy the seven species of fruits from Israel, including dates, figs, and olives. This day marks an important time in the lunar cycle and celebrates the agricultural connection to the promised land.

Purim (Adar 14, 5786)

Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s plot, as recorded in the Book of Esther. In 2025, Purim is observed on March 15th. Jews engage in festive meals, give charity, and enjoy special foods like Haman’s pockets (hamantaschen). It is a time of great joy and celebration within the Jewish community.

Pesach: Passover (Nisan 15-22, 5786)

Passover, or Pesach, lasts for eight days, starting on the 15th of Nisan. In 2025, it begins on April 16th and ends on April 23rd. Passover commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, and families gather for the Seder meal, which includes reading the story of the exodus and eating symbolic foods. It’s a time to avoid leavened bread (chametz) as part of the remembrance of the Jewish people’s hurried departure from Egypt.

Shavuot (Sivan 6-7, 5786)

Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. It is observed from June 2nd to June 4th in 2025. Jews traditionally study Torah all night and eat dairy-based meals to remember the purity of the Torah’s commandments.

If you are looking for activities to do with kids during Jewish holidays, these activity packs are designed to be open and go!

Kid’s Activity Packs

Jewish Holidays in 2024

More Reading:

• 13 Ways To Teach Holiday Social Skills for Kids and Teens
• 101+ Fun Things For Teens To Do From a Mom of 9
• U.S. Federal Holidays Dates Full List