Can you tell me about the holy day called Shavuot? (Today is Shavuot)?

Question

What are all the symbols in this holy day? And why do we celebrate it? Which of these symbols point to the Meshiach (messiah)?

I want to thank you all for answering this question. The answers were very good and hard to choose a best. All of these had some aspects of what I was looking for. I believe firmly that we should keep the feasts/holy days of the Old Testament for they are not only fulfillments of the past, but they are foreshadowings of the future last days ministry. I believe the bible will be fulfilled ON the feast days, particularly at The Feast of Trumpets and The Feast of Tabernacles. May God bless you guys. You're answers were great!

Answer 1

The Legends and Customs
of Shavuot
Many of the traditions and customs of Shavuot have evolved from the legends and stories describing the experiences of the Israelites at Mount Sinai. According to tradition the Israelites actually overslept on the morning of G-d's visit. To compensate for this negligence, Jews hold a vigil on the eve of Shavuot. They stay awake from dusk to dawn, keeping themselves busy with the readings of the Torah and the Talmud. A digest of readings has evolved called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the "Restoration of Shavuot Eve," which includes selections from the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud, and the Zohar.
Another Shavuot custom is the eating of dairy foods. One explanation states that this comes from a passage in the Torah which reads:


"And He gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey".
Another explanation comes from a legend stating that before the visit from G-d the Jews did not keep kosher or follow the Kashrut (dietary) laws. It was on this first Shavuot that they found out that their utensils were nonkosher and thus unfit for use. So finding themselves without kosher meats or utensils the Israelites were forced to eat only dairy foods. Today Jews celebrate Shavuot by eating blintzes, cheesecake, and other dairy dishes.

Another legend tells the story of the Israelites finding Mount Sinai blooming and lush with greenery and flowers. From this legend grew the custom to decorate the Jewish home and synagogue with tree branches and flowers. Some temples decorate the Torah scrolls with wreaths of roses.

Answer 2

This is the feast day that celebrates Moses' receipt of the 10 Commandments from God, on Mt. Sinai.

The Jewish Pentecost.

This is what was being celebrated in Jerusalem on the Christian Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles.

God obviously set it up that way.

Odds are, everyone assembled in Jersusalem that day saw a massive "glory cloud" just like the one that covered Mt. Sinai, descend on the cenacle building in Jersusalem.

When the apostles emerged and began preaching, 3000 were baptized into the church.

Send me an email address and I'll send you a fascinating article with the rest of the true story of the Christian Pentecost, which is still in progress today.

Answer 3

The Christian equivalent is Pentecost.

Pentecost "the fiftieth day" is the second of the three great Jewish feasts, celebrated at Jerusalem yearly, the seventh week after the Passover, in grateful recognition of the completed harvest

Now it is important to know that the 11 of Christ were gathered as for Shavot here it is called Pentecost.

Different name same date!

Acts 2:
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

This has even started a whole denomination of christian folks called Pentecostals - the descendants of the pentecostal faith groups today are called Assemblies of God.

Answer 4

Shavout is also known as Pentecost and is 50 days after Passover. It celebrates the giving of the Mosaic law on Mount Sinai. The Jews celebrate their redemption from Egypt and freedom from slavery. Shavout also coincides with the barley harvest so they bring offerings of grain (first fruits). At the end of Shavout, they celebrate their closeness to God. The first night they stay up and study the Torah.

The parallel to Christianity is that it is the day we celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 2). Interesting how, the disciples kept vigil in the Upper Room until the Spirit came. Christians can celebrate Jesus' being raised and ascended as being the first fruits of our own. Resurrection.