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 countries such as the United States.
Is Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat a Public Holiday?
This is not a public holiday in the United States. Most businesses, schools, and offices are open and follow regular hours, but Jewish-run businesses and organizations might be closed.
Tu B'Shevat is a Jewish observance known as the "New Year for Trees".
Many Jewish communities in the United States observe the festival by eating fruit on this day. The Torah praises seven “fruits”, in particular grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Many Jewish people also try to eat a new fruit, which can be any seasonal fruit. Some Jewish communities plant trees on Tu B’Shevat.
Public Life
Tu B’Shevat is not a public holiday in the United States. However, some Jewish organizations may be closed or 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.
During the 1930s, when Jews returned to the area now encompassing Israel and Palestine, 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.
Jewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel
In the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances, with the exception of Yom Kippur, which lasts only one day worldwide, and Rosh Hashana, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora.
This custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon.
The beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for 2 days to make sure that the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2017
Sat
Feb 11
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2018
Wed
Jan 31
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2019
Mon
Jan 21
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2020
Mon
Feb 10
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2021
Thu
Jan 28
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2022
Mon
Jan 17
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2023
Mon
Feb 6
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2024
Thu
Jan 25
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2025
Thu
Feb 13
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2026
Mon
Feb 2
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
Jewish holiday
2027
Sat
Jan 23
Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat
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.