Minhogim for Shavuos:
What are the Shavuos Minhogim?
- Grass and Trees in Shuls
- Eating dairy
- Waiting for Nightfall
- Staying up all night
What do all these Shavuos customs mean?
I heard in the name of the Vilna Gaon a siman for shavuous minhogim – אחרי”ת ר”ת (ה’ מנהגים של שבועות) א’קדמות ח’לב ר’ות י’רק ת’יקון. Shavuous does not have any specific mitzvah associated with it unlike all other Yomim Toiyvim (by Pesach there is the korban and by Sukkos there is the sukka). Torah is called ראשית and Mihogim are אחרית. Reishis is the idea of a beginning and preparation that is seen in all these things…
The Minhag of Grass and Trees in Shul
There is a minhag to place grass, flowers, and trees in Shul on Shavuos (Rema, Shulchan Aruch OC 494) . The Levush explains that it commemorates the grass that surrounded Har Sinai at the time of Matan Torah. It is a worthwhile Minhag to continue because it helps us relive the experience at Har Sinai – an experience that we actually go through once again.
Another explanation is that it commemorates the bringing of the Bikkurim the first fruits, which were made from baskets woven and decorated from and with grasses and flowers (Ziv HaMinhagim).
The Minhag of eating dairy
The reason for this custom is to remind us that when we received the Torah we were taught the laws of preparing the meat in the proper, kosher manner. Since we were unable to this immediately, we consumed only dairy foods at the time.
Waiting for Nightfall
Although generally we are permitted to bring in Shabbos or Yom Tov slightly earlier than is required, in regard to Shavuos the custom is not to pray immediately but to wait for nightfall. The reason is that we want to count the Omer completely and perfectly. Doing so would entail making sure that the last day is complete.
The Minhag to Stay Up All Night
Although the custom is not mentioned in the Talmud nor in the Shulchan Aruch, the custom has developed in Klal Yisroel to remain awake the entire night of Shavuos and to study Torah. The Seforim HaKedoshim explain that one who stays up all night studying Torah merits “Gilui Shechina” revelation of Hashem’s Divine Presence on that night.