As is the case with other Jewish holidays, Shavuot has its roots both in ancient agricultural seasons and religious traditions. The Time of the Giving of our Torah Harvest Holiday Shavuot is spoken of three times in the Bible. Shavuot is therefore very much an agricultural holiday, when the fruits of the harvest were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. There is no better place to witness a modern day re-enactment of this tradition than on a kibbutz. Many kibbutzim in Israel have traditional Shavuot processions.
Children wear white clothing, with a crown of flowers in their hair.
Tractors parade through the kibbutz, in a procession displaying the produce of the settlement's many agricultural branches and other industries. It is custom to stay up the entire night of Shavuot, studying and discussing Torah. This night is called a Tikkun , as in Tikkun Leil Shavuot . It is said that the gates of Heaven open up at midnight on Shavuot, making it a propitious time for prayer and study. Megillat Ruth, the Book of Ruth, is read as part of the Shavuot morning service.