Tu B'av
- What
- Tu B'av
- When
- 7/23/2021
- Where
- Jewish
Tu B’av which has now become known as the Jewish holiday of love occurs on the 15th day of Av and will begin this year on the sundown of July 23rd and end on the night of July 24th, 2021. Both an ancient and modern holiday, Tu B’av was originally known as a day of joy and matchmaking for unmarried women. However, after centuries of going almost unnoticed, it has been rejuvenated into a day of love similar to Valentine's Day in English speaking countries.
Although there is no exact date of when Tu B’av began there are several theories as to the origins of its beginnings. Some believe that on this day the Biblical "tribes of Israel were permitted to mingle with each other," however this explanation is somewhat surprising since nowhere in the Bible is there a prohibition on "intermarriage" among the 12 tribes of Israel. Nonetheless, this day has transformed and has been popularized as a day of expressing love to others.
Tu B’av can be celebrated in several different ways depending on the preference of the person. Some celebrations include, sending love to friends and family, bringing soup to a sick neighbor, doing a service project or cleaning up your neighborhood. It is also common to find local community events in which people gather to sing, dance and sometimes even wed.