Lag BaOmer is pretty fun and meaningful! People usually light big bonfires at night, which is both a cool tradition and a way to remember the “spiritual light” brought by a famous sage named Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Kids often play with bows and arrows — it’s tied to the word “keshet,” which means both bow and rainbow, symbolizing hope.

Another thing that happens is a special haircut ceremony called upsherin, usually for three-year-old boys, since the tradition says you don’t cut hair during the Counting of the Omer until Lag BaOmer.

In Israel, there are huge celebrations, especially at Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s tomb, with music, dancing, and lots of good vibes. So it’s a mix of spiritual meaning, community, and a little bit of a festive party!

Lag BaOmer isn’t actually mentioned in the Bible at all. It’s a later tradition that grew out of a few different stories and customs tied to the Omer period, which is biblical.

Here’s what’s in the Bible: in Leviticus, there’s a command to count 50 days from Passover to Shavuot — this is called the Counting of the Omer. Each day, a sheaf of grain (an “omer”) was brought as an offering in the ancient Temple.

Now, why do we celebrate specifically the 33rd day (Lag = 33 in Hebrew)? That’s where it gets more historical/traditional than biblical:

• One popular explanation is that a deadly plague that hit Rabbi Akiva’s students ended on that day. That’s not in the Bible — that’s from later rabbinic sources.

• Another tradition says it honors Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage and mystic who is said to have died on this date. He’s believed to have revealed deep spiritual teachings (like parts of the Zohar, a main text of Kabbalah).

• The bonfires? Those are thought to symbolize the “spiritual light” he brought into the world.

So in short: Lag BaOmer is not a biblical holiday, but it connects to biblical times through the Omer count and has picked up layers of meaning through Jewish history and folklore.

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.

Yes, Chabad does get haircuts on Lag BaOmer — but there’s a bit of a twist.

Here’s how it goes: Chabad follows the mourning customs of the Omer period pretty strictly, which includes not cutting hair during most of the 49 days. But Lag BaOmer is the big exception. It’s a joyful day, and in Chabad communities, haircuts are allowed starting from the morning of Lag BaOmer — not the night before, like some other groups do.

So if you’re Chabad (or hanging with Chabad folks), don’t be surprised to see a little boy getting his first haircut — called an upsherin — during Lag BaOmer day. It’s a pretty festive event, sometimes with music, candy, and lots of proud family members snapping pics.