During the Counting of the Omer season, Lag BaOmer is a happy day that is marked by communal celebrations, bonfires, and music.

Fires and Festive Get-Togethers
Lighting bonfires is one of the most recognizable Lag BaOmer customs. These represent the teachings and spiritual light of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a revered Jewish sage who is thought to have died on this day. Around the fire, families and friends congregate to roast food, tell stories, sing songs, and take in the evening.

Outdoor Activities and Picnics
Lag BaOmer is frequently spent outside. Hikes, nature excursions, and family picnics are popular activities. Children are playing games in parks and open areas, particularly archery with toy bows and arrows, a custom associated with the rainbow’s symbolism.

Visiting Rabbi Shimon’s Tomb
In Israel, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Meron, the burial site of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. There, crowds celebrate with music, dancing, and massive bonfires in his honor. It’s one of the largest Jewish gatherings of the year.

The First Haircut – Upsherin
For many religious families, especially in Hasidic communities, Lag BaOmer marks a milestone for three-year-old boys: their first haircut, called upsherin. This tradition is based on the idea of spiritual growth, and the day’s special status allows hair cutting even during the otherwise solemn Omer period.

Weddings and Celebrations
Because of the semi-mourning nature of the Omer period, weddings and parties are generally avoided—except on Lag BaOmer. It’s considered an especially lucky and joyful day for couples to get married and for families to host celebratory events.

Why the Joy?
Tradition says the sadness of the Omer lifts on this day. According to Jewish teachings, a deadly plague that killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students ended on Lag BaOmer. The day is also linked to hidden miracles, spiritual breakthroughs, and hope—making it a welcome break from a somber season.

During the Omer period — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot — a bunch of traditional mourning customs are observed, especially in the first 33 days (up until Lag BaOmer). Here’s what’s usually not done during that time:

🚫 No Weddings or Big Celebrations

Joyful events like weddings, big parties, or concerts are typically off-limits. It’s seen as a somber time, so no major celebrations.

✂️ No Haircuts or Shaving

People avoid cutting their hair or shaving — kind of like a visual reminder of the mourning. The exception? Lag BaOmer — you’ll see lots of little boys getting their first haircut that day (called upsherin).

🎶 No Live Music

Listening to or playing live music is usually avoided too. Recorded music might be okay depending on the community, but generally, it’s kept low-key.

🕺 No Dancing

Since it’s a mourning time, traditional Jewish dancing at parties or festive events is also usually not allowed — again, until Lag BaOmer.

💍 No New Clothes or Jewelry

Some folks avoid buying or wearing new clothes or accessories, especially ones you’d wear for a celebration.

That said, customs vary a lot depending on community, family tradition, or Sephardi vs. Ashkenazi practice. Some people only keep these restrictions until Lag BaOmer, while others go until the 34th or even the 49th day.

So if you’re planning something during this time — like a wedding, concert, or even a haircut — best to double-check the specific customs you or your community follow.

Lag B´Omer is traditionally believed to be the death anniversary (yahrzeit) of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a revered 2nd-century Jewish sage and mystic.

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
Also known as Rashbi, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was a disciple of Rabbi Akiva and is associated with the authorship of the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah). According to tradition, he revealed deep spiritual insights to his students on the day of his death, which is why the day is marked not with mourning but with celebration.

Bonfires in His Honor
The lighting of bonfires on Lag B´Omer symbolizes the spiritual light and wisdom that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai brought into the world. In Israel, tens of thousands of people gather at his tomb on Mount Meron for singing, dancing, and prayer in one of the largest religious gatherings in the country.

Not a Day of Sadness
Though it marks his passing, Lag B´Omer is not observed as a day of sorrow. Instead, it is celebrated with joy, reflecting the mystical tradition that Rabbi Shimon’s soul ascended in light and holiness.

Lag BaOmer lasts one day.

Like most Jewish holidays, it begins at sundown on the evening before the date shown on the calendar and ends at nightfall the following day.

So while it’s officially a single-day observance, the celebrations typically stretch from one evening to the next — filled with bonfires, music, and community gatherings.

The name Lag BaOmer is pronounced: lahg bah-OH-mehr.

The first word, Lag, sounds like “log” but with a softer “a,” similar to “la.”
The second part, BaOmer, is a combination of “ba” (like “bah”) and “Omer” (OH-mehr).

The name comes from Hebrew, where “Lag” represents the number 33 and “BaOmer” means “of the Omer” — referring to the 33rd day of the Omer counting period.