So, you're looking at the calendar and wondering what's coming up. Most people think of the "big" ones—Hanukkah or Passover—but the actual next Jewish holiday 2025 (technically transitioning us into early 2026) is Tu BiShvat.
It’s often called the "New Year for Trees." Sounds a bit niche, right?
Honestly, it’s one of the most underrated days on the Jewish calendar. While it starts at sundown on Sunday, February 1, 2026, and runs through nightfall on Monday, February 2, its roots—pun intended—stretch way back into ancient tax law and mystical spirituality. If you’re living in the Northern Hemisphere, February feels like the dead of winter. It's grey. It's cold. But in Israel, the almond trees are just starting to wake up.
What is Tu BiShvat anyway?
Back in the day, this wasn't really a "holiday" with parties and songs. It was basically a fiscal deadline.
Think of it like the tax man's cut-off date. In ancient Israel, the Torah required farmers to give tithes (like a religious tax) of their fruit. But you couldn't mix fruit from one year with the next. The Sages decided that the 15th of the month of Shevat (Tu BiShvat) was the "birthday" for trees. Anything that blossomed before that date belonged to the previous tax year.
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Simple. Administrative. Not exactly festive.
But things changed. Over centuries, especially after the Jewish people were dispersed from their land, the day became a way to stay connected to the soil of Israel. It turned into a celebration of nature, sustainability, and the weirdly deep connection between humans and trees.
The Mystical Side: The Tu BiShvat Seder
In the 16th century, kabbalists in Safed decided this day needed some spiritual "oomph." They created a Tu BiShvat Seder. No, not the long Passover kind with the bitter herbs. This one is all about fruit and wine.
They'd drink four cups of wine, transitioning from white to red. It’s meant to symbolize the seasons:
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- White wine: Winter. Everything is dormant and pale.
- White with a splash of red: The first stirrings of spring.
- Red with a splash of white: Getting warmer, flowers are blooming.
- Deep red: The heat of summer and full harvest.
It’s a vibe. You eat specific fruits, specifically the "Seven Species" mentioned in the Bible: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Some people go even deeper and categorize fruits by their "spiritual" shells. Like, a walnut has a hard shell but a soft inside—that represents one type of person or spiritual state. A peach has a soft outside but a hard pit—that’s another.
Why next Jewish holiday 2025 matters for the planet
Nowadays, Tu BiShvat has basically become the Jewish Earth Day. You've probably seen kids in Hebrew school planting saplings or families donating to the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to plant trees in Israel. It’s a huge deal for reforestation.
There’s this concept called Bal Tashchit, which basically means "don't be wasteful." On Tu BiShvat, this isn't just a suggestion; it’s the whole point. We're reminded that "man is a tree of the field." If the environment suffers, we do too.
How to actually celebrate (without a PhD in Kabbalah)
You don't need a fancy ceremony. Most people just try to eat a "new fruit"—something they haven't tasted yet that season.
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It’s about mindfulness. Seriously. Taking a second to actually look at a piece of fruit and realize the years of rain, sun, and soil that went into it.
Quick ways to mark the day:
- Eat something exotic: Go to the store and find that weird dragon fruit or starfruit you usually walk past.
- The Carob Tradition: For some reason, eating carob (bokser) became a thing, especially for Jews in Europe who couldn't get fresh Israeli fruit in the winter. Warning: it’s an acquired taste. It's like chocolate's very earthy, very tough cousin.
- Plant something: Even if it’s just a herb garden on your windowsill.
- Eco-audit: Look at your plastic use. It’s a good day to finally start that compost bin you’ve been talking about.
Why we look at trees in the middle of winter
It seems counterintuitive to celebrate growth when everything looks dead outside. But that’s the wisdom of the next Jewish holiday 2025. It teaches us that growth starts underground long before we see a single leaf.
The sap starts flowing weeks before the blossoms appear. It’s a reminder for us, too. Just because you don't see results in your life right now doesn't mean something isn't moving beneath the surface.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to lean into the spirit of Tu BiShvat, try organizing a small fruit tasting with friends on the evening of February 1st. Focus on the Seven Species—grab some dates, a bottle of Israeli wine, and maybe some pomegranate seeds. It’s a low-pressure way to connect with a tradition that’s over 2,000 years old. Plus, it’s a great excuse to eat more than your daily recommended serving of fruit.