Holiday guide
Tu BiShvat
Tu BiShvat is the new year for trees, fixed in the Mishnah as the cut-off date for tithing fruit. It has become Israel's environmental holiday and a planting day.
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Israel or the diaspora?
One day, same date everywhere.
On the ground
What happens in Israel
School planting trips, almond blossom on the hillsides, and a seder of the seven species in many homes and schools.
Practice
How it is observed
- Planting trees in Israel, or funding planting through JNF
- A Tu BiShvat seder with the fruits of the land of Israel
- Eating a new fruit of the season
"Tu BiShvat sameach"
The seven species: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates, plus dried fruits and nuts.
Year by year
Tu BiShvat dates, year by year
Every date from 2024 to 2030, computed from the Hebrew calendar. Each year has its own page with candle lighting times.
The rest of the calendar
Other Jewish holidays
8 of the 14 other holidays on the Hebrew calendar, nearest date first. Every card opens a guide with dates from 2024 to 2030.
September 12, 2026
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year (start of Hebrew year 5787). Shofar blasts, apples and honey, two days of prayer and festive meals.
September 21, 2026
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish year. A 25-hour fast from sundown to nightfall.
September 26, 2026
Sukkot
The festival of booths. A week of meals in the sukkah with the four species. The first two days are yom tov in the diaspora.
October 3, 2026
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah
The closing festival of Sukkot, followed by Simchat Torah: finishing and restarting the Torah reading with dancing. One combined day in Israel, two in the diaspora.
December 5, 2026
Hanukkah
The festival of lights: eight nights of candle lighting marking the rededication of the Temple. Latkes, sufganiyot and dreidels.
March 23, 2027
Purim
Celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia as told in the Book of Esther. Megillah readings, costumes, mishloach manot and festive meals.
April 22, 2027
Passover (Pesach)
The festival of freedom, marking the Exodus from Egypt. Seder nights, matzah, and no chametz for eight days (seven in Israel).
May 4, 2027
Yom HaShoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel a two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill.
Frequently asked questions
When is Tu BiShvat?+
The next Tu BiShvat begins at sundown on January 22, 2027 and ends at nightfall on January 23, 2027. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, the Gregorian date shifts each year while the season stays fixed.
What is Tu BiShvat?+
Tu BiShvat is the new year for trees, fixed in the Mishnah as the cut-off date for tithing fruit. It has become Israel's environmental holiday and a planting day.
Does Israel observe Tu BiShvat differently?+
One day, same date everywhere.
What is Tu BiShvat like in Israel?+
School planting trips, almond blossom on the hillsides, and a seder of the seven species in many homes and schools.