This is the third year we have honored Rosh Hashana in our home. This year, for the first time, I used the month of Elul as a season for turning back. We have had a rough, very rough, year. We added two children to our home, one of them was ill when she arrived adding a cost we hadn't really anticipated, my teenage daughter has struggled too... I had taken my focus off of eternity. I have used the past 30-days to refocus on eternity, repent and seek God's will in how to manage my home, how to relate to my oldest daughter and to remind myself that I don't trust in money in the bank; I trust in God. The month has been very healing. I have been taught a few lessons I wish I hadn't had to learn ~

We don't have any "traditions." No one else I know (in real life) celebrates this day. So, we just have a quiet family meal, a little nicer than our normal fair. I do make bread, but none of my family cares for challah. I will probably just make a french bread. And, for dessert apple-cranberry cake with whipped topping. I always like to have this in the fall anyway.

This is our first year celebrating and the only thing I've thought of to do so far is make a nice meal and your recipe posted above. :)

We always celebrate with the entire family.
The table is complimented with the apples and honey so we have a sweet year. My grandfather, may he rest in peace, would always eat the head of the fish - a tradition - "to be the head and not the tail". As kids this would totally gross us out (lol - as adults too). The sepahrdic jews make a stew out of the lambs head. There are a few prayers said over green beans, dates, apples, squash. But I am not sure of the meaning as this was not a tradition in our home.
Everyone pitches in the cooking.
We had the traditional - chopped liver, Gefilte fish with horseradish, chicken soup with matzo balls (matzo balls are eaten year round as the kids love them). We also had lamb chops, stew, autumn veggies, turkey balls, green salad with mango and pomegranate (the pomegranate is also a rosh hashana symbol). My mom makes the best chicken with wine and chestnuts. And of course desert is fruit compote and honey cake. Everyone wears white as a sign of cleanliness and new beginnings.
Every Rosh hashana eve I go to the beach and "cleanse" myself - I "catch" 7 waves and say a blessing in order to rid myself of any evil. I know, it sounds weird - but many women go to the neighbourhood "mikva" to cleanse themselves in rainwater. I would rather do it in my own privacy without a bunch of women staring at me.....
We have 2 extra holiday days and next week is Yom Kippur. The day of attonement.
This is definately my favorite holiday time. I am not religious but there is so much holiness in the air that you cannot be oblivious to it.
So I wish you all a year of health, happiness, prosperity and love.

Shana Tova!!

And may your family be blessed mightily in the coming year :)

We kindled festival lights and had a meal at home, then went to evening services. Where we prayed in the year and then ate some more *L*. We'll have morning services today, then tashlich and a mikveh for anyone who's brave enough to get in the water. It's pretty chilly in OK this morning.

I know it makes me sound lazy but could I prepare the dough in the bread maker?

I really want to try this.

I believe this is our 7th year to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

DH blows the shofar. We eat sweet foods, including round sweet challah (I want to try your recipe next year), apples dipped in honey and tzimmes (carrots, sweet potatoes and dried fruit drizzled with honey and orange juice). We also had whole baked tilapia, sweet and spicy brisket and honey cake.

We say the traditional blessings, read the RH portions from Scripture, rest, rejoice and enjoy a day of celebration. This year we also did a tashlich service and had a picnic by the lake and tossed crumbs into the water and read the passage from Micah that talks about our inquities being cast into the sea.

Tammy - just wanted to let you know that I made your Apple Challah last week and it was a big hit! It was beautiful. I used my breadmaker to knead the dough and my tin was smaller than yours but I managed to get a 1lb loaf out of the mixture too - we will definitely be making this again!

Blessings from Northern Ireland.