In 2010 the Jewish holiday TuB'Shevat falls on January the 30th. TuB'Shevat is the new year of the trees, the birthday of trees or the Jewish Arbor Day. TuB'Shevat actually celebrates the end of winter and the first renewal of the next season's trees, so in this sense TuB'Shevat could even be likened to the pagan end of winter festivals that are celebrated in Austria and other European nations to this day.

The name TuB'Shvat is actually a translation into English of the Hebrew date from the Hebrew calendar, TuB'Shevat is celebrated on Tet Bet (the number 15) of the Hebrew month Shevat. TuB'Shevat is mainly celebrated in Israel and in religious Jewish communities around the world.

TuB'Shevat was first mentioned in the Mishnah and later in the Talmud where the 15th of Shevat was named as the date at which a fruit bearing tree is considered to have completed a year's growth. In the 1600 the idea first originated to have a TuB'Shevat meal where the fruits of Israel are eaten.

How is TuB'Shevat celebrated in Israel?

In Israel TuB'Shevat is a normal working day and educational institutions are open but there are small parties in schools, community centers and other public establishments. As TuB'Shevat signifies rebirth, nature and growth many new establishments often choose TuB'Shevat to open their businesses, lay a cornerstone or make a symbolic beginning in the building of a new property.

Many charities and environmental organizations in Israel hold tree planting ceremonies on TuB'Shevat. The most well known of these organizations is Keren Kayemet Leisrael which also plants a tree for every child born in Israel throughout the year.

Traditionally Israeli schools ask each of the kids to bring a basket of dried fruits to school or kindergarten on TuB'Shevat and the baskets are either donated or exchanged between the classmates. many schools also sell small pot plants on TuB'Shevat to raise funds for the school or for a charity. The kids also wear white clothes to school on TuB'Shevat and younger kids wear a wreath of flowers on their heads. Each class has a small party where they share the fruits they have brought, sing TuB'Shevat songs, and do nature related art or drama projects. The nursery school teachers and kindergarten teachers also take the opportunity in the weeks before TuB'Shevat to teach the kids about nature related subjects.

On entering an Israeli nursery school in January, before TuB'Shevat you will probably find pictures of farms on the walls, model scarecrows and plates of water soaked cotton wool dotted with sprouting bean shoots.

What are traditional TuB'Shevat foods?

In Israel TuB'Shevat can first be felt in the supermarkets at the end of December, just after Hannuka, when apparently for no reason the shelves are full of the foods which are traditionally eaten on TuB'Shevat. The traditional TuB'Shevat foods are dried fruits – apricots, figs, almonds, dates, raisons and in more resent years have come to include dried pawpaw, dried banana, dried strawberries and dried pineapple. In addition to these dried fruits nuts are also eaten on TuB'Shevat – cashew, peanuts, walnuts, hazel nuts and pistachio nuts.

The traditional Israeli fruits and grains are mentioned in the Torah (Deuteronomy) they are called the seven species and they are dates, figs, grapes, pomegranate, olives as well as wheat and barley. The TuB'Shevat foods have extended to any fruit that grows on a tree, and apart from the traditional fruits of Israel you can find other tree fruits included in TuB'Shevat meals and parties. An Israeli TuB'Shevat party will often include a table of fresh and dried fruits such as apples, coconut, bananas, pears and star-fruit. Fruit cakes are also a popular treat on TuB'Shevat as is carob or St. John's bread.

The almond is not mentioned in the Torah as one of the fruits of Israel but in Israel the almond tree blooms in January or February and is also closely associated with TuB'Shevat. One of the most famous TuB'Shevat songs in Hebrew is called "The almond tree is blooming".

TuB'Shevat gifts

Although gifts are not traditionally given on TuB'Shevat the custom is becoming more and more popular. TuB'Shevat gifts revolve around dried or fresh fruits, wine, plants or nature related items. The most common TuB'Shevat gift is a fruit basket.

If you want to give a TuB'Shevat gift basket to someone then this is how you should do it: Take a small wicker basket and line it with tissue paper or straw, then fill it with a selection of dried fruits, include some of the fruits of Israel as mentioned above. The basket can also be decorated with live or plastic flowers twined around the basket edge or the basket handle. If your gift is for adults you could include some wine – grapes are one of Israel's fruits – or date honey. Fancier TuB'Shevat gift baskets can include chocolate covered nuts and raisons or even chocolates. Giving a plant for a TuB'Shevat gift is also a nice idea as is anything related to the outdoors and garden.