The talmudic Sages derived from the verses of the Torah that on festivals, even more than on Shabbat, it is particularly important for people to enjoy the festival even in the simple physical sense of eating and drinking. This idea has halakhic implications, as explained below.

With regard to performance of labor on a festival, the Sages determined that “the difference between a festival and Shabbat is only with regard to the preparation of food” (Mishna Beitza 5:2). This means that in general the prohibitions against performing labor apply equally on Shabbat and the festivals, except for some of the labors involved in food preparation. Such labor is prohibited on Shabbat but permitted on festivals. This law is explicitly stated in the Torah: “Except for that which shall be eaten for each person, it alone may be performed for you” (Exodus 12:16).

In addition, the prohibition against transferring objects from one domain to another, which exists on Shabbat (see the chapter that deals with the laws of eiruv, p. 460), does not apply in the same manner on festivals, when one is permitted to transfer objects that will be used on the festival. Apart from these differences, halakhot of festivals are the same as Shabbat, and all the other labors that are prohibited on Shabbat are likewise prohibited on a festival.

Important note: When a festival falls on Shabbat, the leniencies with regard to cooking food and transferring objects on a festival are not in effect, as all the halakhot of Shabbat are applicable.

It is permitted to cook on a festival that falls on a weekday, if two conditions are met: (1) The food must be intended for use on the festival itself; and (2) the fire used for cooking must not be kindled on the festival itself, but rather kindled before the festival or transferred from another fire that was kindled before the festival.

In practice, if one wishes to cook on a festival on a gas stove it is permitted to turn on the gas and then to light the desired fire from a candle or another existing source of fire. In order to enable one to cook on the festival, it is a common practice to light a large candle such as a yahrzeit candle before the festival and to leave it burning for twenty-four hours, thereby ensuring that there will be fire available throughout the festival.

The Torah permits lighting a fire from an existing flame on a festival, but under no circumstances does it permit extinguishing fire. Therefore, when a fire is transferred to the stove, for example with a match, one may not put out the match; rather, it should be placed carefully in a non-flammable spot until it goes out by itself. Similarly, when the flame of a stove is no longer needed, it is prohibited to extinguish the fire. Furthermore, just as one may not extinguish the fire on the stove, it is likewise prohibited to reduce its flame; partially extinguishing a flame is equally prohibited as fully extinguishing it.

If one nevertheless wants to put out the flame on his stove, one solution is to allow water to boil over the sides of a pot and to extinguish the fire. Another option is to attach a special timer to the gas line leading to the stove. Such a timer predetermines when gas will flow to the stove. After setting the timer, the burner should be lit, and then at the set time, the gas flow will stop and the flame will go out of its own accord. In any event, after the fire has been extinguished, whether due to the overflow of liquids from the pot or due to the operation of the gas timer, one may turn off the burner knob in order to prevent the leakage of gas.

Some permit smoking on a festival, by lighting a cigarette from an existing fire, while others prohibit this.

Important note: Although one may use a fire on a festival, it is not permitted to turn electrical appliances on or off.

Peeling fruits and vegetables is permitted on festivals, even by means of a peeler designed for this purpose.

It is permitted to whip an egg, and to make whipped cream or mayonnaise, even with a manual device designed for this purpose. One may not do so with an electrical appliance.

It is permitted to crush or grind spices and the like that will lose some of their taste if they are ground up before the festival. For items that grow from the ground and can be ground up before the festival, such as nuts, one should grind them before the festival. However, if one did not do so, he may grind them on the festival, even with a nut grater. The sole restriction is that one may not crush or grind into a vessel, as is customary on weekdays, but only onto the table itself or on a tablecloth that is spread over it.

It is permitted to grate hard cheese or hard-boiled eggs on a festival. Some are particular to do so in a slightly different manner than on a weekday, for example, by not using the standard implement designed for this purpose (a grater).

It is permitted to strain noodles in a pasta strainer after cooking them.

In conclusion, it is permitted to cook on a festival, and this is even praiseworthy if it will enhance the festival. However, if the food preparation can be done before the festival without compromising the quality of the food, one may not leave the work to be done on the festival.

Unlike on Shabbat, on a festival it is permitted to remove waste from food, if the food will thereby improve or preserve its freshness, cleanliness, or quality. It is therefore permitted to remove bones from fish or meat during a meal, to remove seeds from slices of watermelon, and the like. On a Shabbat and on a festival that falls on a Shabbat, such actions are prohibited due to the labor of selecting.