This holiday is celebrated by practicing Jewish individuals worldwide, and lasts for seven or eight days, depending on the region. Sukkot has roots historically as well as agriculturally. It marks the 40-year period during which the Israelites were wandering the desert, living in shelters that were temporary. Today, the holiday is celebrated a a full festival with prayer services and meals. The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Rabbah and has a special observance of it's own outside of the greater holiday. On Hoshana Rabbah, seven circuits are taken around the synagogue once daily, opposed to the regular four (etrog, lulav, hadass, and aravah). Etrog is represented as a fruit of a citrus tree, lulav is a closed, green frond of a date tree, hadass contains the leaves of a myrtle tree, and aravah has branches from a willow tree. These four species are carried around the synagogue once daily during Sukkot. Sukkot structures themselves may be adorned with fruits and garnishes, and represent the temporary structures of the old periods.
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