In our family, we have a fun tradition/minhag where everyone comes up with their own creative simanim and presents them at the table. The catch is, each person has to explain why they chose their unique item and what it represents.
This all started the first Rosh Hashanah after we got married, when one of our guests put a box of Life cereal on the table. He explained that his family did that every year to symbolize having a good life (Yehi ratzon – that we should have a good life). 😂 We loved the idea and began doing it every year with our guests! People get so creative, and besides the classic simanim, in another post, I’ll share some of the best examples we’ve seen over the years too!
I’ve tried to include a variety of simanim from different minhagim and traditions – Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Chassidish. Whether it’s an old family tradition or something new, each siman has a special meaning. I’d love to hear what your family does and find out which ones I may have missed! Feel free to share your unique ideas so we can all get inspired for the new year.
Classic Simanim and Their Meanings:
Apple in Honey – Dip the apple in honey and pray for a sweet new year.
Pomegranate – Eat the seeds and ask Hashem for as many merits as there are seeds, which are said to number 613.
Fish Head or Lamb Head – Symbolizes asking to be “the head and not the tail.”
Beets (or Swiss Chard) – Ashkenazim use beets to ask Hashem to remove enemies. Sephardim often use Swiss chard.
Leeks – Represents asking Hashem to cut down enemies.
Dates – Symbolize the end of our enemies (tamar meaning "to end").
Carrots or Black-eyed Peas – Carrots ask for an increase in merits, while black-eyed peas symbolize abundance.
Squash or Gourd – Represents tearing up bad decrees.
Fenugreek – Symbolizes an increase in blessings and merits.
Fish – Represents fertility and hope for growth.
Some of the Creative Simanim Ideas:(I will share more in another blog post)
Life Cereal – For a sweet and good life!
Lettuce, Raisins, and Celery – For “Let us have a raise in salary!”
Pretzel Sticks – For “being bent but never broken,” asking for resilience.
Extra Simanim:
Lungs – Some Chassidim use them to ask for a light and easy year.
Head of a Sheep or Fish – For being “the head, not the tail.”
Chrein (Horseradish) – For a year of clarity and discernment.
Egg – Represents new beginnings.
Honeycomb – For sweetness directly from the source.
Peas – Similar to black-eyed peas, asking for an increase in merits.
Lettuce, Leek, Beet, and Date – Represents asking for enemies to be destroyed and removed.
Lettuce – Used as a substitute for the head of an animal in vegetarian homes.
Chard – Common in Yemenite and Mizrahi traditions.
Sesame Seeds – For a fruitful year.
Quince – Featured in Persian Jewish Rosh Hashanah meals.
Tamarind – Symbolizes sweetness and joy.
Eggplant – Represents abundance.
Fish Eyes – Symbolize leadership.
Green Beans – Symbolize growth and prosperity.
Scallions – Symbolize growth or “scaling up.”
Black-eyed Peas – A staple in North African and Middle Eastern homes.
Swiss Chard or Spinach – Similar to beets, from Mizrahi traditions.
Personalizing Your Simanim:
We like to get creative with our simanim each year, and it’s amazing to see what guests come up with! While the classic simanim are important, adding personal touches can make the table even more special. Each family can develop their own simanim based on what’s meaningful to them. Whether it’s a symbolic item like candy, fruit, or even cereal, these small additions can turn the meal into a meaningful and fun experience for everyone.
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