A 3 Day Chag
When Shabbat comes right before or after yom tov (a festival day), it creates what we call a “three-day chag (holiday).” Spiritually uplifting, yes—but logistically challenging. With some planning ahead, lots of lists, and these three-day yom tov preparation tips, you can keep things calm, organized, and filled with the simcha (happiness) of the day.
Three-Day Chagim: Israel vs. The Diaspora
For readers in Israel, the only time you’ll encounter a true three-day chag is when Rosh Hashanah comes before Shabbat. That’s because, aside from Rosh Hashanah, yom tov is one day in Israel. Outside of Israel, where a two-day yom tov is the norm, three-day chagim (pl. of chag “holidays”) can occur multiple times a year whenever yom tov comes back-to-back with Shabbat.
This means that while three-day yom tov preparation tips are essential for Rosh Hashanah in Israel when Shabbat comes before the holiday, Jews in the Diaspora may benefit from these strategies several times a year.
Three-Day Yom Tov Preparation Tips: The Freezer Is Your Friend
Cooking for seven festive meals (counting third meal on Shabbat) can feel overwhelming, but advance freezing keeps things manageable. Many homemakers even invest in a free-standing freezer because of how valuable it is in the run-up to a “three-dayer,” when freezer space is at a premium. Start preparing weeks ahead, double your recipes, and freeze some for the holidays. Label each container clearly so you can pull out what you need from your freezer without any guesswork over “mystery items.” Among the best three-day yom tov preparation tips is this: the more you rely on your freezer, the smoother your yom tov will feel.
1. Potato Kugel: The Exception
While many kugels freeze well, potato kugel does not. Freezing alters the texture and dulls the fresh potato flavor. And pre-grating isn’t a fix—grated potato begins to turn brown right after grating, covered or not. That’s why many families prefer to bake potato kugel fresh (timed before yom tov begins) while saving on freezer space for other dishes that freeze well.
2. Freezer-Friendly Alternatives
Choose kugels that do freeze and reheat reliably:
- Noodle kugel (sweet or savory)
- Rice or quinoa kugel
- Vegetable kugels (zucchini, carrot, broccoli)
- Sweet kugels (apple, cranberry, raisin)
3. Cost-Saving Three-Day Yom Tov Preparation Tips
Keep costs down without compromising kavod yom tov (the special honor accorded yom tov):
- Buy in bulk: Stock up on chicken, meat, flour, oil, sugar when on sale in the weeks before yom tov.
- Stretch meat creatively: Meat tends to be an expensive item. Cut costs by preparing stews and soups where a modest amount of meat feeds many; ground-meat dishes (meatballs, stuffed vegetables such as peppers or cabbage) are festive yet easy on the budget.
- Seasonal produce: Build menus around in-season fruits and vegetables—they’re fresher and less expensive.
- Simplify menus: Fewer, larger dishes are easier and more economical than a spread of many small sides.
4. Don’t Forget The Eruv Tavshilin
When yom tov runs straight into Shabbat, Jewish law requires an Eruv Tavshilin—a symbolic setting aside of food before yom tov begins. This permits lighting candles and some forms of cooking on yom tov for Shabbat. Place aside one cooked item and one baked item (often a piece of fish or hardboiled egg and a roll), recite the blessing, and keep them until Shabbat to be eaten at third meal. Forgetting this small but crucial step can leave you scrambling, so make the Eruv Tavshilin a part of your checklist.
5. Fire And Warming On Yom Tov (Keep It Minimal)
A key distinction from Shabbat—and one of the most practical three-day yom tov preparation tips—is that you may light a fire (for instance lighting candles) from an existing flame on yom tov. Plan accordingly:
- Set a 48–72-hour candle or keep one gas burner on at its lowest setting. If you keep a burner on, choose a back burner, keep the area clear, and cover it safely with a blech (in this case a flat sheet of metal that sits over the stovetop grid) or a sturdy upside-down pot placed on the grid above the flame. This shields the fire while keeping it accessible for transferring fire. The truth is, it’s easiest to do all cooking and baking before yom tov, since activities like grinding and squeezing aren’t done on chag.
- If yom tov leads into Shabbat, use the eruv tavshilin to cover essential transitions (e.g., lighting Shabbat candles from the pre-existing flame and warming food). For any questions about warming fully cooked foods, consult your rabbi and follow his advice.
6. Avoiding Hachana (Preparing From One Day to the Next)
Another important consideration during a three-day chag is avoiding hachana—preparing from one holy day to the next. For example, you may not take challah out of the freezer on yom tov in order to use it for the following yom tov day’s meal.
One practical workaround is to place the challah you’ll need for the next meal in front of something you know you’ll need for the current one—for example, a tray of ice or a dessert stored in the freezer. That way, when you go to take out the item you actually need now, you’ll remove the challah at the same time, without it being an act of preparation.
7. Sweet Dishes Improve Over Time
Not everything needs freezer space. Honey cake, sponge cake, apple desserts, and tsimmes (carrots and sweet potatoes with dried fruit and honey, sometimes with meat) tend to improve after a day or two. Bake or cook these earlier in the week and store airtight so the freezer is free for what needs it most. Choosing storage-friendly recipes is one of the smartest three-day yom tov preparation tips to keep in mind.
8. Plan Menus With Simplicity In Mind
Instead of reinventing every meal, double recipes and repeat. Familiar favorites reduce stress. Prioritize dishes that serve well at room temperature or hold nicely when kept warm (e.g., roasted chicken, brisket, vegetable kugels, glazed carrots, butternut squash). If they love your sweet and sour brisket, they won’t mind when it reappears on your table the following day.
Three-Day Yom Tov Preparation Tips: Your Pre-Chag Checklist
Use this checklist a day or two before yom tov begins, so you’re not scrambling at the last minute:
- Freezer meals prepared, labeled, and organized
- Potato kugel plan: bake fresh before yom tov; alternatives already frozen
- Sweet baked goods (honey cake, apple desserts) made ahead
- Challah baked or bought in advance
- Seasonal produce washed and ready
Right Before Candle Lighting
In the final hours before yom tov, run through this shorter list:
- Eruv tavshilin prepared (if applicable)
- Candles & matches ready for each night
- 48–72-hour candle lit for transferring fire
- Hot plate/urn set up and plugged in
- Challah positioned in freezer (to avoid hachana – preperation)
- Children’s quiet activities set aside for prayer services and long afternoons
Keep the Focus On Simchah
The heart of these three-day yom tov preparation tips is creating space for calm so you can enjoy these special days in the Jewish calendar. With some thoughtful planning, you’ll spend less energy on logistics and more time on simchah as you savor the sweetness of Shabbat and yom tov with your family.
By Varda Epstein
