With Autumn, comes the Jewish festival of Sukkot. And not too far off is the celebration of lights, Hanukkah. Today I’m showcasing some of my new Sukkot and Hanukkah stock images, exclusively on Stocksy United.
The holiday of Sukkot is generally known as a harvest celebration. One celebrates Sukkot by erecting a temporary structure called a sukkah. The sukkah has four walls with an entry, and a roof made of organic materials. This can be something like pine boughs, corn stalks, branches, etc. You are supposed to be able to see the stars through the roof, or at least that’s what I recall from my childhood. Once built, the sukkah is then decorated by hanging ornaments, banners, streamers or artificial food from the roof. Meals are to be taken inside the sukkah during the week long holiday, which this year starts the evening of September 23rd.
One will also use a lulav and etrog during a prayer ceremony. Prayers are recited and the lulav (palm fronds and other greenery) and etrog (a large citrus fruit) are held and shaken in different compass directions.
Last Sukkot, I photographed a Jewish family as they built and decorated their sukkah. So, the images below, and seen in the entire series, are authentic for a modern Jewish family.
Later last year, I joined the family again during the celebration of Hanukkah. Most people recognize Hanukkah by its 9 candle menorah, signifying the eight nights of the Hanukkah miracle, plus the helper candle. During Hanukkah people play the game of dreidel and eat fried foods, symbolic of the oil that lasted for eight nights. And, of course, gifts are exchanged. This little girl was more than happy to help light the holiday candles, as you can see here, and in the entire series.
I guarantee you won’t find images like these anywhere else. So check them out in my portfolio at Stocksy United, and thanks for stopping by! (Use code SJLOCKE20 for 20% off your first licensing)
