The day before Yom Kippur is considered almost as a festival. We are bidden to eat and drink more on this day then we normally do. A large meal is eaten prior to sunset when the fast will begin. Many have the custom of dipping the bread into honey, as a sign of a good year. Two candles are lit prior to the start of the holiday.
Many people have the custom of wearing white clothing, symbolizing purity.
Many women refrain from wearing fancy jewelry on this day. It is the custom of parents to bless their children before going to the synagogue. We are to afflict ourselves on Yom Kippur. This does not mean that we actively afflict ourselves, but rather we allow ourselves to suffer by refraining from those pleasureful activities that we enjoy. From the evening through the next day until the stars come out, it is forbidden to eat, drink, anoint with oil, wash or have marital relations.