Tu BiShvat celebrates the New Year for the Trees, which is in essence a celebration of nature and the fruits of the land of Israel. Jewish tradition marks the 15th of Shvat as the day when the sap in the trees begins to rise, signaling the earth's awakening from its winter slumber, and heralding the beginning of spring.

This mini-holiday is of major importance to our appreciation of Nature and our relationship to it. Tu BiShvat, the Tree’s New Year, celebrates the renewal and reawakening of nature. The “Shkedia,” the Almond Tree, is the first to blossom in Israel, and song is on the lips of every Israeli child. The song that comes to mind with the approaching spring days, bright and dazzling. 

The custom on Tu BiShvat is to eat fruits from the seven species for which the Land of Israel is praised: "...a land of wheat and barley and (grape) vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and (date) honey" (Deut. 8:8). The proper blessing before eating any fruit is:

“Baruch Atah Adod-nai Elohai-nu Melech HaOlam Borei Pri HaAitz.”
 “Blessed are you God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree.”

On Tu BiShvat, it is also customary to eat a "new fruit" (a seasonal fruit that you have not yet tasted this season), and to say the following blessing:

“Baruch Atah Ado-noi, Elohai-nu Melech HaOlam, Sheh-he-che-yanu vi-kee-yimanu Vi-hee-gee-yanu laz-man ha-zeh.”
“Blessed are You God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.”

Mazor Guide for Tu b'Shvat brings you much more about the holiday, its meaning and its traditions... See the links below.

• Tu b'Shvat Home

• Shiv'at Haminim

MazorGuide Recommended Reading

Youth Holiday Series: Complete Ten Volume Set
by: Yaffa Ganz
Fun-filled adventures explaining the background and observance of the Jewish holidays.