How to celebrate Rosh Hashanah one day later?

Question

Erev Rosh Hashanah falls this year in my country on public holiday.

We would like to have a celebration with some other families (and a lot of kids) - it was great success last year - but we are afraid a lot of people will be out of the city due to the public holiday. So, the plan is to do the celebration another day - probably one day later (so actually on Rosh Hashanah day itself).

So, the question:

• if we do it during Rosh Hashanah day itself, would it be as good as to do it on Erev Rosh Hashanah?
• if not, are we allowed to perform non-religious customs, like eating honey and apples (and which ones)?
• and also are we allowed (or not) to perform religious based customs, like saying blessings etc.

Note: it is about family celebration at home (call it "party" if you want), not religious service, like in synagogue...

Answer 1

There is no Jewish custom of celebrating on erev Rosh Hashana that I'm aware of. It's a day when many supplications are added to the prayers, when many people fast, and when we are all supposed to repent our misdeeds and make plans to do better in the coming year. Rosh Hashana itself, on the other hand, is a time when families get together for festive holiday meals. That is when people at apples and honey, say special blessings, etc. See this page for a good synopsis of Rosh Hashana observances (and this one for more on erev Rosh Hashana, though the latter page mentions several Chabad-specific customs).

Incidentally, although the question characterizes eating apples and honey as a "non-religious" custom, it is mentioned in halacha, which I think qualifies it as "religious".

Note that the evening preceding the day of Rosh Hashana, from sunset, is considered part of Rosh Hashana (and happens to be when we eat the apples and honey). The same is true in almost all cases that one is considering a day in Judaism: it starts at sunset.

I'm adding the following is in case I've misunderstood your question, and by "Erev Rosh Hashanah" you actually meant the night of (i.e., at the start of) Rosh Hashana: A family meal is good for the night of Rosh Hashana or its day (for lunch, say). Indeed, since Rosh Hashana is two days long, the second night, the night which starts the second day of Rosh Hashana, is still Rosh Hashana, and a good time for a family meal also (and it's customary to eat apples and honey at that time). Apples and honey can be eaten during the day, also: there's no harm in so doing AFAICT, and I've heard that some people do. Also, the blessings that should have been said the night before should be said by day (SA OC 271:8).

Answer 2

For specific guidance about what you should do, I recommend that you consult your rabbi.

Here's something you may not be aware of, which you might find helpful: Rosh Hashana is a two-day holiday, starting this year (5772/2011) on the evening of September 28th and ending on the evening of September 30th. So, there are in fact two "Rosh Hashana Night"s (what I think you mean by "Erev Rosh Hashanah"): the evening of the 28th and the evening of the 29th. The rituals observed on the second night are essentially identical to those observed on the first night, with the addition of making a "Shehechayanu" blessing over a new fruit. So, as the rituals are supposed to be observed on both nights, either night is equally eligible for your event.

Answer 3

Actually, it is quite common for families to celebrate the first evening with one part of the family (say, the wife's family) and the second evening and/or over lunch with another part of the family (say, the husband's family). So you can have an intimate celebration the first evening and a larger one the next day.

Family tradition often shapes the differences between these two celebrations.