Tu B'av

Tu B'av is formally known as the day of love. Tu B'av is an ancient holiday with deep roots. The holiday was celebrated in ancient times as a matchmaking holiday. Like the Hebrew language, Tu B'av underwent a period of under celebration in which the holiday was virtually unnoticed and never practiced. However, the holiday has been revamped and reinterated into the Jewish culture since the establishment of Israel as a state.

Tu B'av is celebrated on the 14th or 15th day of av. Initially, Tu B'av was more than a romantic holiday. It was celebrated to mark reconciliation for the 10 sins of spies. In ancient Judaism, Tu B'av was a joyous time of year and was celebrated with women dancing in vineyards to proclaim restoration in God and forgiveness for sins. Also, Tu B'av also marks the end of the planting season for grapes, trees and crops.

Tu B'av is similar to Valentine's Day in the sense that young couples are encouraged to seek mates. According to the Talmud, the central text in Judaism, women are encouraged to wear borrowed white clothes on Tu B'av in order to disguise wealth that can be seen in fancy or dramatic clothing. A man is encouraged to choose a mate not because of her beauty alone. The Talmud states that physical beauty is empty yet a God fearing woman is to be praised.

Not only is the Tu B'av a day of love but it is also a celebration of historical events including the end of the desert generation, the permission of intermarriage among the tribes of Israel, the restoration of the Tribe of Benjamin, and the end of Jeroboam's blockage against Jerusalem. Moreover, Tu B'av also marks the end of the Jewish holidays. Tisha B'av highlights three weeks of sorrow. Tu B'av occurs one week after Tisha B'av. Tu B'av is the last holiday on the Jewish calendar and is a metaphorical transition from sadness to joy.

Another fact regarding Tu B'av is that it also highlighted the time where the burning of trees for temple fires was no longer permitted. By the time that the Tu B'av has commenced, the cutting of wood for temple fires is complete due to the shortening of days as the season changes from summer to fall. As the days are shorter, there is not enough sunlight for the wood to dry thoroughly hence the prohibition of cutting of trees after Tu B'av.

The modern version of Tu B'av marks a romantic celebration similar to Valentine's Day in western culture. During Tu B'av, young couples show affection and deep love for each other in sending bouquets of red roses to one another. Additionally, Tu B'av is also an extremely popular day for Jewish weddings. The day showcases the ultimate display of love and affection.