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The Siddur we use for Yom Tov is known as a Machzor. What does it mean and where did this originate?

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I've always assumed it comes from the other meaning of machzor, "cycle", since it's used periodically (cyclically). But I have no source. – msh210♦ Oct 4 '11 at 18:17
msh210 - please put it in as an answer. – Gershon Gold Oct 4 '11 at 18:26
Well, it's really nothing more than a guess. But very well. – msh210♦ Oct 4 '11 at 18:38
"where did this originate" do you mean the word machzor, or the prayer-book? – yydl Oct 4 '11 at 18:38
yydl beat me to it. :-) – msh210♦ Oct 4 '11 at 18:39

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

The Shulchan Aruch in OC 100 rules that prior to a holiday one must go over and prepare the text of the prayers so that he is familiar with them.

I suggest this is why holiday prayer books are called Machzor from the root Ch.Z.R. which can mean to review or to go over.

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The word mahzor means "cycle" (the root Ħ-Z-R means "to return"). It is applied to the festival prayer book because the festivals recur annually.

from Wikipedia

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"Machzor" in modern Hebrew also refers to a woman's menstrual cycle. So, when checking to make sure that everyone attending services has a prayer book, never ask a woman in Hebrew "?יש לך מחזור" (Yes, this really happened. Yes, all involved were quite embarrassed.) – user1095 Mar 27 '12 at 9:19

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