8 tips for a Rosh Hashana celebration

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish celebration of the new year. When planning your own special Rosh Hashanah gathering, these thrifty ideas will help to make your celebration traditional and festive.

White typically is the colour worn during this time. Echo this in your centrepieces, floral displays, and table linens.

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to throw bread crumbs, rice, or stones into a body of moving water, known as the Tashlikh. Recreate this at home with an indoor or outdoor fountain to signify being cleansed of your sins.

Tradition commands that 100 blasts from an elk, ram, or antler horn be blown on the first two days of the holiday. This is followed by prayer. Be sure that you have a horn on hand,  from a kosher animal, of course.

It is traditional to serve challah bread during Rosh Hashanah, and even more customary to serve it with honey and apples. Create a simple, inexpensive dish of challah bread-pudding with diced apples and serve with a drizzle of honey to serve a crowd.

Typically, you would celebrate with family and food on Rosh Hashanah as it celebrates the beginning of a new year.

When hosting a Rosh Hashana meal, create inexpensive gifts for guests by giving small jars of honey tied with a white ribbon. It is customary to toast the sweet year ahead during the festive meal, and so honey is a significant gift idea for your guests.

The cake tends to take centre-stage at any meal, and Rosh Hashanah is no different. The most traditional cakes to bake and serve are apple or honey cakes, which symbolize a sweet year ahead.

To keep the kids from getting bored,  be prepared with some low-key games, such as a trivia or question-and-answer type game. There are many templates for trivia questions found on-line.

Try these eight tips to make your Rosh Hashanah celebration truly special. The new year is a time to celebrate family and friends, so don't let the stress of entertaining dampen your mood or spirit during this significant holiday.