Editing Machzor (section)

==Origins and peculiarities==
Some of the earliest formal [[Siddur|Jewish prayerbooks]] date from the tenth century; they contain a set order of daily prayers. However, due to the many liturgical differences between the ordinary, day-to-day services and holiday services, the need for a specialized variation of the ''siddur'' was recognized by some of the earliest [[rabbi|rabbinic authorities]], and consequently, the first ''machzorim'' were written incorporating these liturgical variations and additions.

The ''machzor'' contains not only the basic liturgy, but also many ''[[piyyut]]im'', which are liturgical poems specific to the holiday for which the ''machzor'' is intended. Many of the prayers in the ''machzor'', including those said daily or weekly on the Sabbath, have special melodies sung only on the holidays. Most ''machzorim'' contain only text and no musical notation; the melodies, some of which are ancient, have been passed down orally.