Passover centers around a festival meal consisting of dishes of symbolic importance. On the last Monday in May we commemorate the soldiers who fell in battle. On this day in 1776, colonists in Philadelphia signed the Declaration of Independence from Britain. These are the two most important Jewish holidays of the year. Rosh Hashanah is the actual new year celebration according to the Hebrew calendar.
Jewish people symbolize the joy of the new year by eating sweets.
Yom Kippur falls ten days later. Religious Jews fast on this year. Since 1792, the second Monday in October has commemorated the 1492 discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. It originated as another solstice festival. For the Celtic tribes November 1 marked the new year.