Shalosh Regalim literally means “three feet” and refers to the three times when every Jewish male was obligated to appear before G‑d in the Holy Temple (or its predecessor, the Tabernacle):1

  1. Passover: In Temple times, the first night of the holiday was highlighted by the Paschal lamb, which was slaughtered in the Temple courtyard, roasted, and eaten at the Seder.
  2. Shavuot: This holiday is also known as Chag Habukkurim, “Festival of the First Fruits.” However, contrary to popular belief, this was not necessarily the time when individual farmers would bring their first fruits to the Temple. Rather, it was the start of the season, which lasted until Sukkot (or even Chanukah in a pinch).2
  3. Sukkot: Known simply as Chag (“Festival”), this was a most joyous time in the Holy Temple, with so much singing, dancing, fire-juggling, and more that the sages stated: “Anyone who hasn’t seen the all-night festivities surrounding the water-drawing ceremony hasn’t seen true joy in their life.”

In addition to the sacrifices and rituals specific to the holiday, pilgrims would bring three forms of offerings on each visit:

  • Olath Re’iyah: This animal was slaughtered and entirely burnt on the altar, a gift to G‑d from the pilgrim.
  • Chagigah: This animal was a shelamim (“peace” offering), which was primarily eaten by the pilgrim, with portions reserved for the priests and the altar.
  • Shalmei Simchah: The function of these offerings was so that the pilgrims would have plenty of meat to enjoy (and share with the poor) over the course of the holiday, and the amount offered was adjusted to fit the needs of the offerer and his family.

Read: The Temple Sacrifices

In our times, we no longer visit the Holy Temple and offer sacrifices. However, the holidays are still celebrated with all their mitzvahs, customs, and restrictions.

On each of the Shalosh Regalim, the daily Amidah (silent prayer) is substituted with a special version, the Musaf (additional) service recounts the special communal offerings that would have been brought in the Holy Temple, and Shalosh Regalim Kiddush is said before the nighttime meals. Print: Kiddush for Shalosh Regalim

It should be noted that these are not the only holidays in the Torah, which also speaks of Rosh Hashanah3 and Yom Kippur,4 when attendance at the Holy Temple was common but not mandated.

These five holidays are known as Yom Tov. Read: Laws of Yom Tov