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One of the synagogue rituals for Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn trumpet. A hundred notes are sounded in a special rhythm. The sound of the shofar starts a ten-day period known as the Days of Awe, which ends with Yom Kippur.

After the Rosh Hashanah service, a special meal is eaten at home, including:

• apples dipped in honey - a symbol of the sweet New Year that each Jew hopes lies ahead
• a sweet carrot stew – symbolising reproduction because in Yiddish, the word for carrot, 'mern', has the same meaning
• challah bread in a round loaf, rather than the plaited loaf as served on the Sabbath, symbolising a circle of life and the year
• pomegranate – often seen on the table because of a tradition that pomegranates have 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments that a Jew is obliged to keep

At the meal, Jews dip their first piece of bread in honey and say, 'May God give me a sweet and happy new year'.

Yom Kippur is marked by Jewish people in a number of ways:

• some wear white as a symbol of purity
• no food or drink is consumed for 25 hours
• no make-up or perfume is worn
• no sexual intercourse
• no bathing
• no leather shoes are worn

The most important part of Yom Kippur is the time spent in the synagogue. Many Jews who are not particularly religious will nevertheless want to attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, the only day of the year with five services.

The day is spent in continuous prayer for forgiveness. This festival is a time of reflection for Jews. The services end with a long blast on the shofar.