In Judaism, Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday. It continues until nightfall on Saturday, making it a weekly period that crosses two civil calendar days.
The timing reflects the biblical pattern in Genesis, where a day is described as beginning with evening. Jewish communities therefore welcome Shabbat before sunset with candle-lighting, prayers, and a festive meal. The precise start time changes throughout the year because sunset changes by date and location.
Shabbat is traditionally associated with rest from creative forms of work, prayer, study, family meals, and communal worship. Saturday daytime services often include Torah reading in the synagogue.
A common mix-up is calling Shabbat simply “Saturday.” Saturday is its main daytime portion, but Shabbat actually begins on Friday evening and ends Saturday evening. Havdalah, a ceremony involving wine, spices, and a braided candle, marks the transition back to the ordinary week.