Yom Kippur Dates, Meaning, and Traditions
In 2024, Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Friday, October 11. Learn about the meaning behind Yom Kippur and the special traditions and recipes related to this holiday.
What Is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement” in Hebrew. This is the holiest Jewish holiday of the year and ends the ten days of High Holidays or “Days of Awe,” which begin with Rosh Hashanah.
- As part of their tradition, Jewish individuals avoid working, and all adult members observe a fast from the evening before Yom Kippur until the following evening.
- This day is about asking God to forgive sins, reflecting on past mistakes, accepting repentance, and praying.
- Fasting is seen as a way to cleanse and purify the body and soul.
- Many will wear all-white clothing also to symbolize purity.
- On the day of Yom Kippur itself, there are many traditional prayers. One of the most important prayers describes the atonement ritual performed by high priests during ancient times.
- Yom Kippur ends with a single blast that is blown on the shofar—a trumpet made from a ram’s horn.
Photo by David Cohen 156/Shutterstock.
When Is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur is held on the 10th day of Tishrei, ten days after the start of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).
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Note that the Jewish calendar is different than today’s civil calendar (the Gregorian calendar). It is a “Luni-Solar” calendar, established by the cycles of the Moon and the Sun, so the lengths of days vary by the season, controlled by the times of sunset, nightfall, dawn, and sunrise.
All Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the date listed.
| Year | Hebrew Year | Yom Kippur Begins |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5785 | Sunset October 11 (to nightfall October 12) |
| 2025 | 5786 | Sunset October 1 (to nightfall October 2) |
| 2026 | 5787 | Sunset September 20 (to nightfall September 21) |
| 2027 | 5788 | Sunset October 10 (to nightfall October 11) |
Yom Kippur Traditions
The day before Yom Kippur (and fasting), a special and bountiful meal is enjoyed with a candle lighting at the end of the meal. Many people remember those who passed before them. Some Jewish people also visit cemeteries on the day before Yom Kippur.
Another tradition leading up to Yom Kippur is to perform charitable acts. Many people give money or time to the poorest among them.
After the holiday ends with the shofar, there is much celebration, music, and dancing. A festive “break-the-fast” meal is served with lots of satisfying breakfast foods such as bagels and spreads, kugel, blintzes, and egg dishes. See how to make your own bagels!
If you observe Yom Kippur, please share your traditions below!
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In my own way , I celebrate the b'fast with friendship and meal ; Is that part of Yom Kipur ?
"God" is "God" no matter what faith or lack thereof. Please be respectful of others. This lack of respect is what's tearing the world apart right now. Don't be the problem, be the cure! Blessings to all!
Very informative…in your list of other holidays you mention Hanukkah, Passover, Ramadan, Kwanza but no mention of Christmas—why? It is one of the most important holidays for the Christian. I find it strange you place Ramadan and Kwanza there but no mention of Christmas. Why?
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Thanks for the article. As a Christian my "Day of Atonement" occurred on the day that Jesus Christ was crucified, and the veil of the Temple was torn "from top to bottom" (not bottom to top) to indicate an end to the Jewish sacrificial system. I don't need a high priest to enter a holy of holies to meet and converse with God the Father. The different beliefs between us are strong and I believe the New Testament is a collection proven historically accurate writings...in fact I base my present and future life on it.
Shalom Gary,
You are right & wrong at the same time. Even though you have Y'shua as your Eternal Paschal (a.k.a. Passover) Lamb Offering you also still need him to go before you (in the eyes of G-D) to cover/wash away your sins before G-D's eyes. He is there to "Intercede" for all Believers
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Remember Gary that the Tanach (Old Testament) is a foreshadow of things contained within the B'rit Chadashah (New Testament). The principals & methods are still applicable "BUT" ... but they are so in some other way such as I mentioned concerning Pesach. Yom Kippur is in your (our) future. There is coming a day when all will pass before G-D for our Day of Atonement. Our Days of Aw are here. We are called to make atonement for our sins through G-D's Eternal Paschal Lamb TODAY before the Final Trumpet sounds. This is "Why" the Temple curtain was torn, so that we might bring our "Sacrifice, our Paschal Lamb" before G-D. The B'rit Chadashah has NOT "Done Away" with the Tanach, but is the fulfillment of it "In Process." This "Process is ongoing until the Final Yom Kippur. It is for this reason that "Salvation" is an "On Going" process.
Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation "NEARER" than when we believed.
No One is "SAVED" until either they die or the Final Trumpet sounds & Y'shua returns.
I realize this comment is almost a year old, but I felt the need to reply. I am a born and raised Christian, but have missed out on a lot of understanding and deeper meaning of the Bible by Christianity being separated from Jewish traditions. Communion, for example. Jesus wasn't just using things on the table that looked like body and blood, but was following a sacred feast that there was incredibly deep meaning to. Once you know the tradition of the feast you are able to give even deeper meaning to communion when you take it as a practicing Christian. Jesus himself was a Jewish rabbi and he said that he came to fulfill the law, not to erase it. There is a lot to gain as a Christian understanding and practicing Jewish traditions. You could look up Messianic Jews to gain even more understanding. Not all Jews believe that Jesus was simply a prophet and not the messiah. There are a large number of them that believe he is the messiah the same as us Christians do. Just some food for thought.
So sorry dear atonement day has nothing to with Mr J okay it's a Jewish festival not Islamic or Christianity. Historically your Jesus wasn't the one that stopped the temple sacrifice and I can prove to you that before the time Christian's claim Jesus was crufixy the temple has been destroyed
I completely agree with you. God bless those that believe Jesus is really the Son of God, not just a prophet.
Why are there 9 candles on the Menorah rather than 7?
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