Tu B'Shevat 2027: The New Year of Trees
Festival guide · 2027
Tu B'Shevat 2027 falls on Saturday, January 23, 2027. Dates are astronomical estimates — confirm with your local religious authority.
Tu B'Shevat (ט"ו בִּשְׁבָט — the 15th of Shevat) is the Jewish New Year of Trees. It falls in late January or early February and marks the point in the agricultural calendar of ancient Israel when trees begin their annual growth cycle.
Originally a halachic date for calculating the age of fruit trees (relevant to tithes in biblical law), Tu B'Shevat became a full celebration when Kabbalists in 16th-century Safed developed an elaborate seder for the day. In modern times it has also become a Jewish environmental holiday.
When is Tu B'Shevat 2027?
Tu B'Shevat 2027 falls on Saturday, January 23, 2027. Dates are based on astronomical calculations and may vary by ±1 day — always confirm with your local religious authority.
| Date | Saturday, January 23, 2027 |
Tu B'Shevat 2027: Planning & Key Facts
In 2027, Tu B'Shevat falls on a weekend, so most observers won't need to arrange time off work. The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar with periodic leap months, so the Gregorian date shifts year to year within about a month. This is an expected date; final observance follows the local announcement.
| Year | Date | Shift vs. prior year |
|---|---|---|
| Tu B'Shevat 2026 | Monday, February 2, 2026 | — |
| Tu B'Shevat 2027 | Saturday, January 23, 2027 | 355 days later |
| Tu B'Shevat 2028 | Thursday, February 10, 2028 | 383 days later |
Traditions & Observance
Eating the Seven Species
It is traditional to eat fruits and grains associated with the Land of Israel — the Shivat HaMinim (Seven Species) of Deuteronomy: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Many families set out a table of these foods, celebrating the abundance of the land.
The Tu B'Shevat Seder
The Kabbalists of Safed composed a seder involving four cups of wine progressively mixed from white to red, and fruits eaten in three categories: shells outside (e.g. pomegranate), shells inside (e.g. dates), and fully edible (e.g. figs). Each category corresponds to a Kabbalistic world.
Tree Planting
The Zionist movement transformed Tu B'Shevat into a tree-planting holiday. Schoolchildren plant trees across Israel and many diaspora communities hold symbolic plantings. The Jewish National Fund has planted hundreds of millions of trees in Israel over the past century.
Environmental Awareness
Tu B'Shevat has become a focal point for Jewish environmental education and activism. Jewish organisations use the day to discuss sustainable living, climate change, and the Jewish obligation of tikkun olam — repairing the world.
What are the Seven Species of the Land of Israel?
The Shivat HaMinim (Seven Species) are the seven agricultural products with which the Land of Israel is praised in Deuteronomy 8:8: wheat, barley, grapes (or grape products like wine and raisins), figs, pomegranates, olives (or olive oil), and dates (or date honey). These products are eaten on Tu B'Shevat as a way of connecting to the Land of Israel. Many Jewish families set a table with all seven species. In Israel, Tu B'Shevat falls in late winter — when almond trees begin to blossom, making the almond (not technically one of the seven) a symbolic Tu B'Shevat flower.
How is Tu B'Shevat observed today?
Observance ranges from minimal to elaborate depending on tradition. Many Jews simply eat the Seven Species and say a blessing. More observant families hold the Kabbalistic seder with four cups of wine (progressively darkening from white to red) and fruits in three categories. In Israel, schoolchildren plant trees across the country — a tradition started by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in the early 20th century. Environmentally-minded Jewish communities use the day for nature hikes, habitat restoration, and eco-education programmes. Tu B'Shevat has no work restrictions and is not a full holiday — synagogue is attended for regular weekday services.
Other Years
Tu B'Shevat is a minor festival with no work restrictions. It falls on 15 Shevat, typically in late January or early February.