Tu BiShvat: New Year for Trees
The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar is known as Tu BiShvat, the day that marks the beginning of a ´new year´ for trees. This year we are celebrating Tu BiShvat Holiday on Monday, January 17th, starting from the evening of Sunday, January 16th.Tu BiShvat, besides being the New Year for Trees, is also known as the Festival of Trees (Chag Ha'Ilanot), and Festival of Fruits (Chag Ha'Perot).
Tu BiShvat, which is one of the four new years in the Jewish calendar, is the time when the trees get ready for spring. After this day the season in which the trees wake from their winter sleep, bloom, and fill with flowers and fruits begin.
On the eve of Tu BiShvat, as we eat fruits that nature has given us, we contemplate on the phases they have gone through, from being a seed until coming to our table, and how all these are in fact miracles.
Tu BiShvat reminds us that in the life cycle, spring comes after winter, light comes after dark, and according to Jewish belief, new happy beginnings are on the doorstep and will be arriving in the blink of an eye.
This year we are celebrating Tu BiShvat Holiday which reminds us once again that new beginnings await us, on Monday, January 17th, starting from the evening of Sunday, January 16th.