Seven Sacred Species

At sundown yesterday it was once again the start of the New Year. The sun dawn marked the beginning of the one-day festival of Tu BiShvat, otherwise known as the New Year of Trees, one of the four Jewish celebrations that are considered as the New Year. Four New Years in a single year, now that really sounds confusing!

Tu BiShvat is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the month of Shevat, which falls either in late January of February. As the Jewish calendar is based on lunar cycles, it is also always a full moon night. The date marks the awakening of nature; the earth is currently saturated with water - ready to flow into the veins of the trees, enlivening them so they slowly wake up from their deep winter sleep and prepare to bloom in spring. 

Normally, the civil Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in fall in the month of Tishri, the first month of the Jewish calendar, which falls in September. This day is also the start of the agrarian year, as the fields, orchards and vineyards are all harvested so that they are ready to bear the plenty of nature in the forthcoming year. The renewal of the agricultural cycle is also the beginning of the economic year. It's so logical to consider it the New Year when compared to the insignificant date we celebrate at the end of December!

Another day, which is a new start, is related to husbandry, just a month before that date. It is the first day of Elul, the last month on the Jewish calendar, which is known as the Rosh Hashanah LaBehema, that is, the New Year of Animals. Actually, it would be more appropriate to say farm animals, as the day is the start date of animal tithes, the one-tenth tax compulsory tax given to the Temple. 

The ecclesiastical New Year, however, is the first...