Editing Second Temple (section)

==== Sukkot ====
The pilgrimage festival of [[Sukkot]], which began on the 15th of Tishrei and lasted seven days, was regarded as the preeminent Jewish festival during the Second Temple period.<ref>For example: Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', VIII, 100</ref>{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}} Its centrality is evident in the ancient sources, some referring to it simply as "the Festival".<ref>For example: Mishnah, ''Rosh HaShana'', 1:2</ref>{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}}{{Sfn|Safrai|Stern|p=894|Flusser|van Unnik|1988}} Temple offerings during Sukkot involved a extraoridnarily high number of animals sacrificed daily as required by the Torah.{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}}{{Sfn|Safrai|Stern|p=894|Flusser|van Unnik|1988}} Central to the celebration was the procession with the '[[Four species|Four Species]]' (which derives from [[Leviticus 23]])<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews,'' III, 245</ref>—a palm branch (''[[lulav]]''), myrtle (''hadas''), [[willow]] ([[Aravah (Sukkot)|''aravah'']]), and citron ([[Etrog|''etrog'']])—which were carried, and according to the Mishnah,<ref>Mishnah, ''[[Sukkah (Talmud)|Sukkah]]'', 3:9</ref> shaken, during the recitation of [[Psalm 118]].{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}} Another key ritual was the willow ceremony, in which large willow branches were placed around the altar.{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}} Participants would circle the altar once each day and seven times on the seventh day, reciting Psalm 118 and concluding with the beating of branches. According to the Mishnah, the willow ceremony overrode the Shabbat, though the [[Boethusians]] objecting to this ruling.<ref>Mishnah, ''Sukkah'', 4:5–6</ref>{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}} The water libation ritual, symbolizing the onset of the rainy season, involved water drawn from the [[Pool of Siloam]] and poured by the priest at the altar each day.<ref>Mishnah, ''Sukkah'', 4:9–10</ref>{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}} Each night, this ritual was preceded by the [[Simchat Beit HaShoeivah|Simchat Beit HaShoevah]], a night-long celebration held in the Temple courtyards, characterized by music, dancing, and the lighting of bonfires.<ref>Mishnah, ''Sukkah'', 5:1–5</ref>{{Sfn|Doering|2012|p=578}}{{Sfn|Safrai|Stern|p=895|Flusser|van Unnik|1988}} The Levites stood on the steps leading to the Nicanor Gate, chanting the "Songs of Ascent" from the Book of Psalms.{{Sfn|Safrai|Stern|p=895|Flusser|van Unnik|1988}}