The idea of counting each day represents spiritual preparation and anticipation for the giving of the Torah which was given by God on Mount Sinai at the beginning of the month of Sivan, around the same time as the holiday of Shavuot.

What does the Hebrew word Omer mean?

1 : an ancient Hebrew unit of dry capacity equal to ¹/₁₀ ephah. 2a often capitalized : the sheaf of barley traditionally offered in Jewish Temple worship on the second day of the Passover.

What is the reason for Shavuot?

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) commemorates the revelation of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people, and occurs on the 50th day after the 49 days of counting the Omer. Shavuot is one of the three biblically based pilgrimage holidays known as the shalosh regalim. It is associated with the grain harvest in the Torah.