Tu B’Shevat (Tu Bishvat) is the 15th day of the Jewish months of Shevat. This festival is also known as the “New Year for Trees” and is observed in Jewish communities in Australia.
Is Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day) a Public Holiday?
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day) is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.
Tu B'Shevat is a Jewish observance known as the "New Year for Trees".
Tu B’Shevat, which is the start of a “New Year for Trees” in the Jewish calendar, marks a time for many Jewish people in Australia to engage in activities such as eating fruit or planting trees. The Torah praises seven “fruits”, in particular grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Many Jewish people eat a new fruit, which can be any seasonal fruit. It is also customary for blessings to be recited as part of this ritual.
Many Jewish synagogues or organizations post reminders about Tu B’Shevat on their websites or newsletters weeks or months ahead of time. Other activities may include meetings that involve discussions or talks about the meaning of Tu B’Shevat.
Public Life
Tu B’Shevat is not a public holiday in Australia. However, some Jewish organizations may offer a limited service to allow for festivities to occur on this day.
Background
Tu B’Shevat is first referred to in the late Second Temple period (515 BCE to 20 CE) when it was the cut-off date for levying the tithe on the produce of fruit trees. When Jewish colonists returned to Palestine during the 1930s, they reclaimed the barren land by planting trees where they could. It became customary to plant a tree for every newborn child – a cedar for a boy and a cypress or pine for a girl.
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2016
Mon
Jan 25
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2017
Sat
Feb 11
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2018
Wed
Jan 31
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2019
Mon
Jan 21
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2020
Mon
Feb 10
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2021
Thu
Jan 28
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2022
Mon
Jan 17
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2023
Mon
Feb 6
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2024
Thu
Jan 25
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2025
Thu
Feb 13
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
2026
Mon
Feb 2
Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day)
Jewish holiday
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.