Rosh Hashanah arrives, and suddenly the kitchen is all about honey. We dip the challah. We dip the apple slices. We sneak an extra spoonful into tea. But have you ever stopped to wonder why honey became the symbol of a sweet new year, and why we still love it centuries later?
The answer is a mix of history, nature, and a bit of Jewish chutzpah.
The Tradition Goes Back… Way Back
In Jewish tradition, honey represents sweetness, blessing, and hope for the future. Dipping apples into honey is a visual prayer, “May the year ahead be as sweet as this taste.”
But here’s the twist: in biblical times, “honey” often meant date syrup. Bees get most of the credit now, but our ancestors were probably dipping fruit into silan long before supermarket squeezy bottles existed.
Still, bees won the branding war. Their honey became the star because it lasts forever (seriously, archaeologists have found edible honey in ancient Egyptian tombs) — a perfect symbol for blessings that endure.
Why apples? Some say because they’re crisp, beautiful, and grow in so many climates where Jewish communities thrived. Others point to mystical teachings, the apple represents the Garden of Eden, wholeness, and renewal.
Whatever the reason, apples + honey = Jewish seasonal marketing genius.
Sure, the apple dip is iconic. But honey sneaks into almost everything on a Rosh Hashanah table:
Honey challah – soft, golden, and irresistible.
Tzimmes – carrots, sweet potatoes, dried fruit, and (yes) honey.
Honey cake – the dessert that divides families into “love it” and “pretend to love it” camps.
Glazes for chicken or salmon – sweet meets savoury for the holiday meal.
Stir honey into your salad dressing.
Glaze roasted root vegetables.
Swap sugar for honey in your kugel.
Gift a jar of artisanal honey as a hostess present.
Honey is more than tradition, it’s a reminder that sweetness takes effort. Bees work for it. We prepare for it. And at Rosh Hashanah, we taste it and hope for more of it in the year ahead.
From our hive to your home – Shana Tova.
Keywords: Rosh Hashanah honey, kosher honey UK, apples and honey, Rosh Hashanah food traditions, Jewish New Year recipes, kosher Rosh Hashanah delivery UK
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