This year (2011), Sukkot, also called Z’man Simchateinu, (the time of our gladness), starts at sundown, Wednesday, October 12th, and lasts for seven days. Sukkot is immediately followed by two separate Yamim Tovim (Festivals), Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day of Assembly) on Thursday, October 20th, and Simchat Torah on Friday, October 21st, but many commonly think of them as both being part of Sukkot.

In Eretz Yisroel, the Yom Tov of Sukkot lasts for seven days followed by one separate Yom Tov - Shemini Atzeret. Simhat Torah is celebrated as a hybrid holiday with Shemini Atzeret on the same day.

The Torah commands us to "take for yourselves on the first day (of the Sukkot Yom Tov), ... The Four Species." (Except when Sukkot Falls on Shabbat).

The Arba Minim (Four Species) are the:

• Etrog (citron),
  
• Lulav (a date palm branch),
  
• Three Hadassim (myrtle twigs), and
  
• Two Aravot (willow twigs).

We are commanded to take these four plants and use them to "rejoice before God." The three branches are bound together and referred to collectively as the Lulav. This ritual is called Na’anuim.

The Etrog (Citron) is held in the left and the Lulav (Palm) in the right hand. With these four species in hand, one recites a Bracha (blessing) and waves the species in all six directions symbolizing the fact that God is everywhere. There are many traditions as to how to wave the Lulav and Etrog. We follow the practice of waving the Lulav and Etrog according to the Tur:

1. Front / East
   
2. Left / North
   
3. Right / South
   
4. Back / West then
   
5. Up and
   
6. Down.

We wave during the Hodu prayer and Ana Hashem.

The four species are also held during the Hallel service, a special collection of prayers in the morning Yom Tov services. We follow the Ashkenazic custom according to the Rema. The Hazzan waves during the first two verses of Hodu.

To each of the 4 verses the congregation responds with the Refrain:

1. Hodu* LaShem
   
2. Ki
   
3. Tov
   
4. Ki
   
5. L’olam
   
6. Chasdo.

Waving the Lulav and Etrog three times in each direction as noted by the numbers.

* We do not wave during the recitation of God’s name.

We also perform the Na’anuim during the prayer Ana Hashem by waving either two directions per word or 1 direction for each syllable:

1. A
   
2. na *Hashem
   
3. Ho
   
4. shi
   
5. A
   
6. Na (repeat)

We do not wave during the second verse “Ana Hashem Hatzlicha Na.” and then once again when we recite the Hodu verse near the conclusion of Hallel.

The Lulav and Etrog are also held during the Hoshanot, the procession around the Amud (the Table from where the Torah is read) each day, except Shabbat, during the Yom Tov.

These Hoshanot processions were made around the Mizbayach (Altar) of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) in Yerushalayim. The processions are called Hoshanot, because while the procession is made, we recite a prayer with the refrain, "Hosha Na!" (please help us!). On the seventh day of Sukkot, seven circuits are made. For this reason, the seventh day of Sukkot is known as Hoshanah Rabba (the great Hoshana).