Kiddush is traditionally recited over a special cup, often made of silver with special engravings or filigree, meant to give honor to this blessing.
Sometimes, Kiddush cups are passed down as family heirlooms, or given as wedding or bar mitzvah gifts.
A must-have for any Jewish home, Kiddush cups are an integral aspect of Shabbat and holiday meals, wedding ceremonies and circumcisions.
This is followed by two blessings: One over the wine/grape juice, and one about Shabbat.
סַבְרִי מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּותַי:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם בּורֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ. וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁו בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצון הִנְחִילָנוּ. זִכָּרון לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. (כִּי הוּא יום) תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. (כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאותָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים) וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצון הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת:
Blessed are you God, our Lord, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are you God, our Lord, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and desired us.
And with love and goodwill has invested us with His holy Shabbat, a remembrance of the act of Creation. (For it is) the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
(For You have chosen us and sanctified us, among all the nations) and with love and goodwill You have given us Your Holy Sabbath as an inheritance.
Blessed are You God, who sanctifies the Shabbat.