Shvat and Adar

Tu BiShvat, the 15th day of the month Shvat, is called the New Year of the Trees. In honor of this New Year, it is traditional to eat new fruits. Many people associate figs, dates and carob with Tu BiShvat.

Tu, by the way, stands for the Hebrew letters "Tet-Vav" which, together, represent the number 15. Each Hebrew letter represents a number -- the first ten letters represent the numbers 1-10, the next 9 letters, the numbers (by 10) 20-100 and the last 3 (there are 22 letters in the Hebrew aleph-bet) represent the numbers 200, 300 and 400. Letters are put together into words, but each Hebrew word has a numerical value too. For example, the Hebrew word Chai means life -- the two letters that make up Chai in Hebrew represent the number 18. This is why Jews often contribute $18 or multiples of $18 to charities.

Many people do a Seder (organized meal) for Tu Bishvat (represented by the graphic here). At this Seder, there are four cups of wine (of varying degrees of darkness starting with white, representing winter, and red, representing spring) and many different sorts of fruits (with seeds, with peels, etc.).

Adar is the month that is doubled for leap years. 7 times every 19 years, when the Jewish lunar calendar needs to be adjusted to fit with the solar year, A second Adar is added (this coming year will be such a year). In this case, Purim, which is celebrated in Adar, will be celebrated in the second Adar (Adar Sheini).

Purim is a one day holiday (the 14th of Adar, or Adar II in a leap year). The story of the holiday Purim is in the biblical book of Esther. To commemorate what happened, we have several customs that go with the celebration of Purim.

On Purim evening, we read the book of Esther -- children (and, some adults) where costumes and make noise when the name of the villain of the story, Haman, who tried to kill all the Jews but was thwarted in his efforts.

In the morning, we again read the Megilla (the book of Esther). At the reading of the Megilla, we give tzedaka -- charity -- We then deliver Shalah Manot -- baskets of food to friends.

Later on in the day, we have a seuda -- a feast -- shared with family and friends.

Because of a verse in the Megillah, which states that walled cities celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar, people in Jerusalem celebrate Purim on what is called Shushan Purim, the Purim for the city of Shushan, which was the capital of ancient Persia (which is where the story of Purim took place).

Check out my other squidoo lenses:
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Hanuka
About the Jewish Calendar
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions
Presidents1: George Washington
Passover: Holiday of Freedom
Ruth and Naomi
John and John Quincy Adams
Television Trivia Quiz

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