What are some traditions related to Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah?
Traditionally, boys begin to don Tefillin on their Bar Mitzvah (or several months before), and are called up to to the Torah for an Aliyah. Often, the Bar Mitzvah boy will wear a Tallit. Many boys read from the Torah and the Haftara on their Bar Mitzvah Shabbat, and are expected to give a Drashah on the Parshah. Some Bar Mitzvah boys lead services. A celebration is held to mark this special occasion, and friends and family are invited to share in a festive meal. It is customary to give gifts to the Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah.
On a Bar Mitzvah, the celebrant is customarily showered with a variety of gifts from friends and family. Traditional gifts like the Kiddush cups and tefillin are common. The kippot is also quite common as a gift from someone in the family. The celebrant is supposed to wear the kippot during the services at the synagogue.The tallit is given by the father to the son or daughter during the Bar Mitzvah as a sign of welcoming him into adulthood.
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