While not as well known as Passover, Shavuot can be looked at as a sequel to that holiday, and an important one in and of itself. Shavuot takes place fifty days after the first day of Passover, and is also known as Pentecost, (literally meaning "fifty"). 

Not originally associated with any historical event in the Torah, it was originally purely a harvest-related holiday. Prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, worshippers would bring baskets of the "first fruits of the harvest." When the temple was destroyed, that practice ceased (though in some communities today, Jews still bring food or plants to the local community leader or rabbi). 

At some point after that, Shavuot took on new meaning, commemorating the time that the Jewish people first received the Torah. 

Customs

To many Jews, Shavuot is the most significant of all Jewish holy days. There is generally a festive meal with candle-lighting and prayers, and some people decorate their homes with flowers and green plants.

In synagogues, there are special Yiskor (memorial) services on the second day of Shavuot.

Traditionally we eat dairy dishes during the holiday. There are many different reasons given for this, but it is probably to mark the origins of the kashrut laws. Other special foods prepared and eaten at this time are tall cakes, extra-long loaves of challah (to represent wheat offerings at the temple) and fruit (particularly the seven species of Israel described in the Torah: wheat, barley, vine, fig, pomegranate, olive and date.).

Many Jews have revived the Kabbalist custom, known as Tikkun leil Shavuot, of staying up all night on the first night of Shavuot studying the Ten Commandments. These all-nighters, which began in the 16th century, recall and reaffirm the covenant at Mt. Sinai between God and the Jewish people.

Shavuot Links

• A Shavuot Primer
• Shavu'ot
• Shavuot @ JTS
• Shavuot at Aish
• Shavuot for Kids: A Pajama Party with Ice Cream
• Shavuot Game
• Shavuot Recipe Index
• Shavuot Recipes
• Torah from Dixie: Shavuot

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