Chag Sameach and other holiday greetings חַג שָׂמֵחַ
“Chag Sameach” (חַג שָׂמֵחַ) means “happy holiday” and is the general greeting for Jewish festivals, especially Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. Several holidays also have their own special greeting.
The source
“You shall rejoice in your festival” (Deuteronomy 16:14). The Talmud explains that festive joy is expressed through good food and wine, new clothes and gifts for one’s family (Pesachim 109a). The greeting wishes the other person that joy.
Greetings by holiday
- Rosh Hashanah: “Shana Tova” (a good year) or “Shana Tova u’Metuka” (a good and sweet year); formally “Ketiva vachatima tova”.
- Yom Kippur: “Gmar chatima tova” (a good final sealing) and “Tzom kal” (an easy fast).
- Pesach: “Chag kasher vesameach” (a kosher and happy Pesach).
- Intermediate days (Chol HaMoed) of Pesach and Sukkot: “Moadim lesimcha”, answered with “Chagim uzmanim lesasson” – especially among Sephardim.
- Hanukkah and Purim: “Chag sameach”, “Chanukah sameach”, “Purim sameach”.
- Yiddish: “Gut Yontif” (a good Yom Tov), common among Ashkenazim.
Sources
וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ וְהַלֵּוִי וְהַגֵּר וְהַיָּתוֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָה אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ
Talmud and halachic sources
- Talmud, Pesachim 109a – the joy of the festival
- Rambam, Hilchot Yom Tov 6:17–18
Frequently asked questions
- What does Chag Sameach mean?
- “Happy holiday” – chag is a festival and sameach means joyful.
- Do you say Chag Sameach on Yom Kippur?
- It is not usual. On Yom Kippur people say “Gmar chatima tova” or wish an easy fast (“Tzom kal”).
- How do you answer Chag Sameach?
- With “Chag Sameach” in return.
- What is Gut Yontif?
- The Yiddish greeting for a festival, from “Yom Tov” – a good holiday.