Showing posts with label Pentecost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pentecost. Show all posts

Seven Ways to Celebrate Shavuot

Seven Ideas for celebrating Shavuot/the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
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When the omer count finally makes it to fifty it's Shavuot! Then what? Here are a few ways you can celebrate this year.

-Watch the wheat harvest. Shavuot is about the wheat harvest and celebrating the bread of life. Get in touch with a local farm or farmer to see when they will be harvesting their wheat, and if you can visit. Seeing cows and beehives would also be fitting. If nothing else, go for a drive or bike ride to see if you can find a farmer gathering their wheat. Usually the timing is just about right here in the Midwest and farmers harvest the wheat around Shavuot. Or think about taking family pictures in front of a wheat field.

-Give the word to someone. On Shavuot we celebrate the giving of the Torah, why not keep that gift going? Purchase a Bible for someone who doesn't have one or would benefit from a different translation. Or gather Bibles to give to a nonprofit like a soup kitchen or homeless shelter so they can share them with their clients. Children (or adults) could memorize a verse to recite to grandparents or the congregation as a way to share the word with others.

-Have two loaves of bread. Leviticus 23:17 says to bring two loaves of bread as a wave offering to YHWH. Why not try your hand at baking bread or purchase a couple of delicious loafs from a bakery? Maybe a new recipe or trying an unusual kind would make it even more wonderful. Serve them with different spreads and toppings to make a bruschetta bar or do-it-yourself grilled cheese. Seeing not one, but two loafs of bread is a reminder that YHWH takes care of our needs. Thank him for the provision before digging in.

-Get immersed. In Acts 2 believers were baptized in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot. Spend your Shavuot at the lake or on the beach and get immersed. This would be a great opportunity for meditation on that passage of Scripture or a group discussion about it.

-Throw a painting party! Get together a group of friends and render Bible verses to canvas. Paint or handwrite the words to a favorite verse or the fruit of the Spirit or the ten commandments. Even if it doesn't turn out a masterpiece it's still a fun way to focus on Scripture and spend time with others. Provide canvases, brushes, paint, and lots of newspaper to keep things clean. A painted or printed out Scripture would also make a great Shavuot gift for a friend. Another way to give the word.

-Study Scripture. Aren't we celebrating that we received YHWH's word? That could look like having friends over for a late night Bible study, having a picnic near a wheat field to read the book of Ruth, kids acting out a Bible story, or a dramatic reading. Delving into Scripture is a foundational part any feast and it should be a joy!

-Provide for the poor. At the end of the instructions for Shavuot in Leviticus 23:22, we are reminded to not use all of our resources on ourselves but leave some for those in need. Could you donate clothing to a women's shelter at this time of year or non perishables to a food pantry? How about volunteering as a family at a local nonprofit? Putting together action packs for Voice of the Martyrs was a memorable Shavuot activity for our congregation. Donate financially to a missions cause you believe in.

Have a very happy Shavuot!

Happy Shavuot Printable

Happy Shavuot Printable | Land of Honey

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Happy Shavuot! I wanted to share a printable today to help with the festivities at your house. A few years back I shared a milk and honey printable for Shavuot, but this one is a little more home printer friendly. Just print it out and tape it to the fridge or put it in a frame. To me, it's nice to decorate because it helps build the anticipation for the upcoming holiday, and makes it a little bit different from the rest of the year.

Click here to download this Happy Shavuot printable. It is free for your personal use. Have a lovely set apart time!

Shavuot Provision: Celebrating Enough


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Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain (First Fruits), and you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to YHWH your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as YHWH your Elohim blesses you. -Deuteronomy 16:9-10

Shauvot. Pentecost. The Feast of Weeks. First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest. The fourth of YHWH's set apart times. Scripture instructs us to count fifty days after First Fruits (this one of the barley harvest) during the Week of Unleavened Bread to arrive at this set apart time. The fifty days is where the name 'Pentecost' comes from with the Greek root of the word being fifty. So if you're familiar with Pentecost in Scripture, just know that it is another name for Shavuot.

What is this holy day?

Shavuot is a party for physical provision. Since it happens in the late Spring, there is joy that winter is over and we made it through the dangerous cold and lack of resources. The wheat was just harvested and there is enough. This was no small thing with wheat taking up a large portion of the Israelite's diet. Since most of us are largely withdrawn from the worries of the harvest we miss what a relief and joy it is to see the provision for us and our families for the next year. Shavuot is about celebrating that YHWH meets our needs. No matter the time and place we can all agree that YHWH's gift of provision is worth celebrating. Give thanks and be glad that your needs are met.

Did you know that this set apart time was kept in the New Testament? Yes, even after the resurrection and ascension of the Messiah, we see the Disciples counting the days diligently to the arrival of Shavuot (Acts 2:1). Indeed, when they received the Holy Spirit they were gathered together celebrating this set apart time of YHWH. And why were they doing this? Don't miss that the Messiah expressly instructed them to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit before heading out of town and country to spread the good news (Acts 1:4-5). With this instruction, Yahusha upheld a commandment of YHWH found in Deuteronomy 16:16 which instructs Israelite men to appear before YHWH at his set apart place on Shavuot.

As a side note, while many of us have heard it was just the twelve disciples in an upper room, Scripture says the a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were. What house could this be? The Temple of course. In Hebrew this was called the Beit Hamikdash and beit means house in Hebrew. The Disciples were in the house. There is no way this was a family home because we know there were over 3,000 people present! (Acts 2:41) So the Disciples were keeping the commandment found in Deuteronomy even after the Messiah ascended into Heaven.

It's significant that YHWH poured out the Holy Spirit at a time where people were celebrating physical provision. When you rely on wheat for survival, it's worth celebrating and praising YHWH that he provides enough. And what about our needs for spiritual sustenance? By likening the need for physical nourishment we see how desperate our need is for the Holy Spirit in our lives. As the Israelites would have been starved without wheat, what would happen to us without the Holy Spirit? How would your life be if it lacked love, and joy, and peace, and faithfulness? It's a reminder of Moses' words, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH," (Deuteronomy 8:3) which is especially appropriate because the ten commandments were given at Shavuot as well.

Shavuot is a reminder that there is enough for our needs. Enough in the cupboard. Enough healing for all of us. Enough of the Holy Spirit to go around. Enough joy to overcome sorrow. Enough discernment to make good decisions. There is enough. And there is still more. He provides.

Who is Shavuot for?

Anyone who wants to give thanks for YHWH providing for them. Or anyone who thinks following the example of the Disciples and the instructions of Scripture to serve YHWH in this way. Or anyone looking to have more of the Holy Spirit in their life. While you can ask any day, there is certainly not a time more appropriate than Shavuot!

In Vayikra 23:17 we are instructed to wave two loaves of bread before YHWH. I like the symbolism of the two loaves because it signifies abundance and our needs being provided for. Not one but two. The two houses of Israel are also called to mind, and YHWH expects both the natural born Israelite and those grafted in to celebrate his set apart times. The animals coming two by two to Noah's ark and then multiplying to fill the earth is also symbolized by these two loaves, which YHWH will multiply to provide for us throughout the coming year. Of course the ten commandments were given on two tablets as well.

Shavuot is a time to not only celebrate the word of YHWH being given to us on tablets, but also having it written on our hearts. Once again, YHWH wants to pour out the Holy Spirit to give us a better understanding of his word, ability to walk in the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit, that many would come to him.

Verses to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:

I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. Because if I don't go away the Holy Spirit will not come to you. -John 16:7

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my ways and obey my commandments. -Ezekiel 36:26-27

Where the Spirit of YHWH is there is freedom. -2 Corinthians 3:17

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts, how much more will the Father keep giving the Holy Spirit from Heaven to those who keep asking him. -Luke 11:13

To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profiting, for to one is given a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge, to another belief, and to another gifts of healing, and to another operations of powers, and to another prophecy, to another discernment, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. -1 Corinthians 12:7-10

I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams will cover the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring and my blessings on your descendants. -Isaiah 44:3

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, and self control. -Galatians 5:22

I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out my Spirit in those days. -Joel 2:28-29

I baptized you with water, but the Messiah will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. -Mark 1:8

Shavuot is a party for provision | Land of Honey

Have a very happy Shavuot!

Related posts:

DIY Shavuot Basket

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

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Here's a fun and super simple DIY that you can make for Shavuot!

A lot of you have said that you have trouble finding decorations for the feasts - here's something that you can make for just a few dollars in about fifteen minutes. If you don't have a basket at home to use, head to a thrift shop. Each one I go to is always well stocked with baskets and they are rarely more than a few dollars. I found mine for 50 cents. Since you'll be painting it, the color doesn't matter. Just find a size and style you like. 

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

You can use this DIY Shavuot basket for decoration or for gifting a few treats to your kids or a friend. And speaking of gifts, does anyone give presents for any of the festivals? To me Shavuot is a great time to do that, if it's your thing. Since it's only a one day celebration, there's a lot less to do, plus you don't have to worry about cleaning the leaven out of the kitchen, like for Matzah Week, or packing up to go somewhere for Sukkot. So gift giving can be a way to make Shavuot fun and special. Of course, you don't have to give gifts and there's a lot of other things you can use this basket for if you decide to keep it for yourself.

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

You will need:
Basket (mine is about eight inches across and eleven inches high)
Craft letters (mine are about an inch and a half high. I think refrigerator magnets would work too)
Glue gun
Spray paint

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

Place your basket on its side and then set the letters around the handle to get a rough idea of placement. Start with your V (since it's the the middle letter of Shavuot), and place it approximately in the center of the handle to help with symmetry. Space the letters as close or far apart as you wish. You can use a marker to dot the handle where each letter will go.

Once you know where your V is going, use hot glue to attach the bottom of the letter to the basket handle. Since the bottom of the letter has a pretty small surface area you will want to hold the letter in place for 20 or 30 seconds to make sure it stays where you want it. Once your first letter is secure move on to the next. I worked from the inside out adding the letters to help with the symmetry. 

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

When you have all of the letters on for Shavuot, let it dry a few minutes to make sure your glue is set. Then you're ready to spray paint it in the color of your choice. I used coral. Check the directions of your spray paint for approximate drying time. I let mine dry overnight.

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

And voila - you have a Shavuot basket! Fill these with treats for the kids or a friend. You could also use this as a bread basket for serving or to hold cards or favors at a Shavuot get together. Or fill with muffins or fruit for a friend. 

Feel free to use a bigger or smaller basket depending on what you're planning on doing with this. Obviously, you could use this DIY for any other holiday as well.

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

Gifts in my basket:
Ten Commandments Gummies
YHWH Echad Pin
Pins and stickers from Walk in Love
Ruach and Roll sticker
Yahweh Bracelet

Other ideas:
Sidewalk chalk
Craft supplies
Matchbox car or small toy
Seed packets
Necklace or bracelet
Menorah ring dish
Candy or chocolate
Dried fruit
Bubbles
Doodle Portions Coloring Book

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey


DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

DIY Shavuot Basket | Land of Honey

Shavuot Scripture Reading List

Bring two loaves of bread to YHWH. - Leviticus 23:17 | Land of Honey

Happy Shavuot if you are celebrating today! If you already celebrated I hope your set apart time was a lovely burst of growth and truth. If you are new to celebrating the Festivals of YHWH, hang in there! It gets better each time, as we understand more. The best is still ahead.

I wanted to share a few passages of Scripture that I enjoy reading at this time of year to prepare for and celebrate Shavuot. Since this is a time to reflect on the Word of YHWH and the Ruach HaKodesh I picked Scriptures related to that, but this is by no means an extensive list! The Set Apart Spirit is mentioned hundreds of times throughout all the books from the very Beresheet to the judges and prophets and the Psalms, Yahusha spoke of the Spirit, and it appears throughout Revelation. Not to mention how hard pressed you would be to find a passage of the Word that doesn't emphasize or point to the importance of the instructions of YHWH. So feel free to add your favorites to this. Here's a few of mine.


Scriptures to read during Shavuot | Land of Honey

Scriptures to Read During Shavuot:
Exodus 19-20 - the giving of the Covenant after the Israelites left Egypt.
Vayikra 23:15-21 - this passage is about Shavuot itself.
Deuteronomy 16:9-12 - this passage gives further instruction for Shavuot.
Ten Commandments - this is in Exodus 20:1-17. I like to emphasize these because of course the infamous Golden Calf story also happened around Shavuot, so it's important to know how to live correctly so we also do not break Covenant with YHWH.
Book of Ruth - this is traditional to read because the story takes place around the spring harvest time, like Shavuot itself. It also beautifully parallels the story of many of us who weren't born into a Torah based community but chose that path with the help of a redeemer. 
Jeremiah 31:33 - the Torah will be written on our hearts.
Ezekiel 36:27 - talks about the Holy Spirit helping us to keep YHWH's instructions.
2 Chronicles 8:13 - Israel kept the Feasts under King Shlomo.
John 14:15-29 - Yahusha talks about the Ruach HaKodesh.
Luke 24:49 - Yahusha's instruction to wait.
Acts 1:4-5 - the disciples wait to be immersed.
Acts 2 - this is where the Ruach HaKodesh was poured out on believers, just ten days after the ascension of Yahusha. It happened at Shavuot. 
Book of Acts - I love Acts because it is about those who lived both as followers of Yahusha and as keepers of Torah. This is the lifestyle we should have today.
1 Corinthians 12 - the gifts of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 - the fruit of the Spirit.


Happy Shavuot! | Land of Honey

Free Ten Commandments Printable for Shavuot

Free printable of the Ten Commandments | Land of Honey

Because Shavuot is a special time of celebrating both the giving of the Holy Spirit and the giving of YHWH's instructions I thought a printable of the ten commandments would be fitting. Recently I admired a simple ten commandments piece of art in a friends home and decided to make a more Hebrew version of that. My free printable uses YHWH, as well as Shabbat. The structure of the commandments is also a bit different. I studied wording in various versions and arrived at an amalgamation of my own.

Free printable of the Ten Commandments for Shavuot | Land of Honey

Did you know there is some dispute over the ten commandments themselves? For the most part, Christian teaching and translations start the list of ten commandments off in Exodus 20:3 - "you shall have no other gods before me." But the Hebrew movement would argue that the first and most significant commandment is found in the second verse. "I am YHWH your Elohim who brought you out of the Egyptian house of slavery." Because knowing the name of the God we serve is incredibly important, right? This goes along with the third commandment of not forgetting the name of YHWH or bringing it to vain emptiness and ruin.


Free Ten Commandments printable | Land of Honey

I am really happy about this new piece of art in my home! Hanging the ten commandments is a great way to learn them by heart, and keep your focus on how YHWH wants us to live. It also shows visitors that his word is important to you. While I think this is especially fitting for the Shavuot season, I plan to keep mine up year round. In a cute frame this would also make a great gift!

Click here to download my ten commandments printable. It is free for your personal use.
You can get a large print of this at a local printing place to have it as more of a statement piece. Mine was printed as an 18" by 13" for about $8.00. Or this prints great at home in a regular printer as an 11" by 8" or even smaller if you prefer.

A very happy Shavuot to each of you!

DIY Ten Commandment Gummies

How to make your own Ten Commandment Sour Gummies for Shavuot | Land of Honey

These ten commandment gummies are a perfect treat for Bible school, Passover, or any of the Biblical holidays! Made with beef gelatin, they are Biblically clean and kosher, and you can use most any type of fruit or juice to make them. Use these to teach kids about Moses and the giving of the ten commandments, or as a healthy treat to enjoy at Shavuot or the Feast of Tabernacles.

How to make your own Ten Commandment Sour Gummies for Shavuot | Land of Honey

The secret to this lies in the awesome candy mold used to make these into the commandment tablets. I found this one and love it! You'll notice that it has the first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet - each letter stands for one of the ten commandments given by YHWH to Moses in Exodus 20, right near the time of Shavuot. Since we celebrate the giving of the written Word and the Ruach HaKodesh writing his Word on our hearts at Shavuot this is a perfect treat for this time of year. You could make them together as a family or surprise someone with a gift of real food, kosher sour gummies.

DIY Ten Commandment Gummies for Shavuot | Land of Honey

These are simple to make and they should work with any real food 'gummy' recipe out there, just be sure to use kosher gelatin! I used Great Lakes grass-fed beef gelatin but you could certainly experiment with agar agar as well. My candy mold holds just over half a cup of liquid. As you can see, these recipes will make for a bigger batch than that. I experimented with halving the recipes but found with that little liquid it didn't blend completely smooth in my blender, and harder bits of gelatin in my gummies are no good in my opinion. So I would recommend making the full recipe. If you have two candy molds that should work out about perfectly. If not, just pour the extra in a dish to set up. It won't be as cute but still tasty.

Recipe to make kosher ten commandment gummies | Land of Honey

Strawberry Lemonade Gummies
2/3 cup strawberries (I used frozen but fresh works too)
2/3 cup lemon juice
5 tablespoons kosher gelatin (I used Great Lakes which is kosher and grass fed)
Ten commandments candy mold

Over medium heat in a small sauce pan combine your berries and lemon juice. Cook gently for 3-5 minutes until berries are softened. Place in the blender and blend until smooth. If you want to do a taste test this is the point to do it. If it's not sour enough to your liking add an extra tablespoon of lemon juice. If it's too sour add a few strawberries or a spoonful of honey.
Once you are happy with the taste add the gelatin and blend until smooth. At this point, it is going to smell a little, uh, meaty and that's okay. I promise the smell and funkiness will go away once the gummies are set.
Pour into your ten commandments mold. If you see any large air bubbles you can poke them with a toothpick. Any extra can be poured into a ramekin or small baking dish to set.
Refrigerate one hour or until set. Use a toothpick or butter knife to loosen the tablets from one side of the mold and then peel them out. You're done!

Recipe for kosher sour gummies | Land of Honey

Blueberry Rhubarb Gummies
2/3 cup of blueberries (I used frozen but fresh works too)
1/3 cup rhubarb juice (see below)
1/3 cup lemon juice
5 tablespoons kosher gelatin
Ten commandments candy mold

To make rhubarb juice: place approximately 1 cup of fresh or frozen rhubarb into a saucepan with 1 cup of water. Simmer 15 minutes or until the rhubarb loses it's color. Strain and use the liquid for this recipe.
Over medium heat in a small sauce pan combine your berries with the rhubarb and lemon juice. Cook gently for 3-5 minutes until berries are softened. Place in the blender and blend until smooth. If you want to do a taste test this is the point to do it. If it's not sour enough to your liking add an extra tablespoon of lemon or rhubarb juice. If it's too sour add a tablespoon or two of blueberries or a spoonful of honey.
Once you are happy with the taste, add the gelatin and blend until smooth. You can see adding the gelatin turns the mixture opaque.
Pour into your ten commandments mold. If you see any large air bubbles you can poke them with a toothpick. Any extra can be poured into a ramekin or small baking dish to set.
Refrigerate one hour or until set. Use a toothpick or butter knife to loosen the tablets from one side of the mold and then peel them out. You're done!

Recipe for kosher sour gummies | Land of Honey

Grape Juice Gummies
1-1/3 cups grape juice
5 tablespoon kosher gelatin
Ten commandments candy mold

You don't need a blender for this one. Whisk your gelatin into 2/3 cup of grape juice. Meanwhile bring the other 2/3 cup of juice to a simmer. Whisk the heated juice into the gelatin mixture until smooth.
Pour into the mold and let set in the refrigerator about one hour until hardened.
Use a toothpick or butter knife to loosen the tablets from one side of the mold and then peel them out. You're done!

Recipe to make kosher ten commandment gummies | Land of Honey

I think this might be a new Shavuot tradition at my house. Has anyone used a ten commandment candy mold? I think I'm going to try chocolate next! :)

Recipe to make kosher ten commandment gummies | Land of Honey

Recipe for kosher sour gummies | Land of Honey

Scratch Off Omer Counter

Make a scratch off omer counter for Shavuot | Land of Honey

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I'm excited to share with you a new way to count the omer...with scratch offs!

Why count the omer? This is actually something we are instructed to do in Leviticus 23:15-16. The fifty days we are to count link the Feast of Unleavened Bread to Shavuot or Pentecost. This is the time period that the Messiah spent still on earth after being resurrected from the dead. What is an omer? Omer is the Hebrew word for sheaf - which is a bundle of grain. First Fruits during Matzah Week is when part of the barley harvest would be waved to YHWH, and then at Shavuot the same would be done with sheaves of wheat.
Scratch Off Omer Counter - easy DIY for the Feasts | Land of Honey

This is an easy DIY to put together since it's really just two things, a print and stickers. There is also some flexibility with how you use it. I liked the large size of this, but there's no reason you couldn't print this as an 8" x 11" in a normal printer if you would prefer. If you don't have time to order the scratch off stickers, using regular stickers to cover up the days as they go by would work. Or even just cross them off with a pen. It's up to you!


Scratch Off Omer Counter - easy DIY for the Feasts | Land of Honey

You will need:
Printable omer calendar
One inch scratch off stickers (I used gold ones from here)


Directions:
Print off the omer calendar. I got an 18" x 24" engineer print at Staples, which at $2.99 was the most cost effective option I found. The paper is thin, so it's not ideal for photographs, but works just fine for our purposes.
I used scotch tape to place my counter on the wall. You could also glue it to a foam board or attach to canvas if you prefer.
Then place your scratch off stickers above the numbers and you are set to go! Each day scratch off another sticker until we get to Shavuot.

Update: A friend told me she is going to take hers to an office supply store to get it laminated. Her plan is to mark the days with dry erase markers and use it each year!

Scratch Off Omer Counter - easy DIY for the Feasts | Land of Honey

The past couple of years of counting have brought me more than a few days where I'm not sure if I already did my omer count or not. I remember doing it, but maybe that was yesterday? Anyone else with me? So I decided to put seven days in each row to make it easier to double check. Just make note of what day you started counting on and things will add up. You could also make a habit of counting at a certain time each day or even saying the traditional blessing of, "Blessed are You, YHWH Eloheinu, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the omer."


DIY Count the Omer Scratch Off Calendar | Land of Honey

If you look closely in the photos you may notice something is amiss. Funny story about assembling my counter: I expected to be left with one of my fifty stickers when I got done, but there were strangely two left. How could this be? Every row has seven numbers...with the exception of the second row which somehow has only six. Upon closer inspection of the photos I discovered that I had inadvertently left off day 13! I have no idea how that happened, but it is corrected in the downloadable version. Ha! 

DIY Count the Omer Scratch Off Calendar | Land of Honey

Other ideas for counting the omer:
DIY Flair Calendar
Making a paper chain
Printable Cards from Torah Sisters Magazine
Kids Counter
Kosher on A Budget's Omer Counter
Writing the count in your planner

DIY Guide to Keeping Shavuot

Between the three feasts of YHWH that happen in the springtime, and the three that occur in the fall, stands Shavuot. While lots of attention is given to Passover and Sukkot, the Feast of Weeks can feel a bit neglected to me. This is too bad, since, like the center of the menorah, this is not less significant because it stands slightly further apart than the others. On the contrary, celebrating the giving of the Torah and the Ruach Hakodesh should be a rich time for us all.
How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
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How do we make it a special time when there is so little help from the outside world? Some items for Passover make their way into grocery stores, and the fall feasts have many traditions in themselves. But search 'Shavuot' in a Judaica shopping site, and nary a return will you get. I don't get that, because this is a set apart time. So I'm sharing with you a few ideas to make your Shavuot celebration special this year. Here are a few things to try:
How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Chamomile Honeycomb Ice Cream from Snixy Kitchen
 Have you ever made candy honeycomb? There is nothing like it!


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Rose and Pink Peppercorn Chevre with Honey from The House That Lars Built
"Like honey and milk the Torah lies under your tongue." This passage in Song of Songs is largely the reason we associate Shavuot with dairy treats and honey.


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Bake Challah Bread from Smitten Kitchen
Shavuot requires two loaves of bread in Scripture. Find a good bread recipe or two to try ahead of time to serve on Shavuot. Challah is traditional but you can try any kind.

How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Fig and Cheddar Grilled Cheese from A House in the Hills
Shavuot is a no work day so choose foods that you can prepare ahead of time or are extremely simple to make like grilled cheese. 

How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Frozen Yogurt Bon Bons from Sugar & Cloth
This would be easy to make healthy by using natural food coloring and using chopped dried fruit instead of sprinkles.


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
10 Commandments Cupcake Toppers from Chai and Home
ALL THE HEART EYES for this idea!

How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Honeycomb Cookies from A Beautiful Mess

How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Milk and Honey Printable from Land of Honey
Use this free download to decorate your space.


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
DIY Color Wrapped Wheat from Inspired By Charm
Since Shavuot is correlated with the first fruits of the wheat harvest, incorporating wheat into your decorations would be very fitting.


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Honeycomb Wall Decal from Idle Hands Awake
This super simple project is just washing tape shaped to look like a beehive. A great reminder of the sweetness of the Living Word given to us by YHWH.

How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
DIY Stylish Tzedekah Boxes from Chai and Home
In Scripture giving was a time of joyous celebration, not a begrudged obligation. Making a pretty tzedekah box can help restore that joy.


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Pasta Crown from Dana Israeli
A much more glamorous version of a macaroni necklace.

How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Homemade 10 Commandments Memory Game from The Climbing Tree
The ten commandments (along with the rest of the Torah) were given at Shavuot so this would be a perfect way to teach children YHWH's word. I'm sure the adults would benefit too!


How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Host a Torah Study
We talked last week about having an all-night Torah study. We need to believe and act like the Word of YHWH is the point. It is limitlessly valuable and worth celebrating in and of itself.



How to Celebrate Shavuot: a DIY guide to keeping the Feast of Weeks | Land of Honey
Get Immersed 
Since the Ruach HaKodesh fell baptizing the believers, getting mikvahed or immersed in living water would be a very appropriate Shavuot activity.

Chag sameach! I'm still interested in what you're doing to celebrate and I hope you'll share pictures with me over on Instagram!