Categories: Lifestyle

Happy Tu B’Shevat! Celebrate Trees Today.

Happy Tu B’Shevat to our Jewish friends, friends who believe in the Jewish son of god (Jesus) or any religion!

Luckily my good friend Steph enlightened me: Tu B’Shevat is the New Year for Trees to the Jewish faith, or the cut-off date to calculate the tree’s bday.  This prevents one from eating fruit from a tree younger than 3 (or cradle-robbing trees!)

To celebrate, customs are to eat a new fruit on this day, or a food from the Seven Species (shivat haminim) which are wheat, barley, grapes (vines), figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.  Or you could plant a tree.

The holiday this year began during sunset last night – nightfall Feb 8, 2012… I suggest everyone either eats some fruits or plants a tree to help out the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Plant One Million campaign.  Personally, I’m going to celebrate by eating a Mango (tree fruit) with a side of Greek Salad (olives) and sing Happy Birthday to my baby bonsai tree.  (Isn’t he cute?)

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.

Recent Posts

Legislation for affordable water? New bus routes, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Committee considers bills to make water more affordable.…

2 days ago

Environmental concerns loom over World Cup events

Host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup face issues with pollution, heat and waste.…

3 days ago

Growing food or energy? Agrivoltaics says Pennsylvania farms can do both

Agrivoltaics, combining agriculture and solar energy, could be a tool in climate change, support farmers…

1 week ago

Farm tool library, brush fires delay trains, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Farm tools and resources soon open to the…

1 week ago

800 bags of litter gone, making data centers pay, Philly parks climb the ranks & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  City partners with Quebec on sustainable transit. At…

2 weeks ago

Looking for sustainability solutions? These 55 organizations showed what’s possible.

Attendees found a way for sustainability to feel tangible, local and social at Green Philly's…

2 weeks ago