It’s time for some lovin’. It might not be February 14th but the Jewish calendar knows what’s what and today it’s Tu B’Av, the Jewish holiday of lurrrrve. That’s right, the Jewish/Israeli equivalent of the box of chocs and anonymous Valentine card…
In the Hebrew calendar, today is officially Tu B’Av, the 15th of the month of Av. Originally, Tu B’Av was a great day of joy and matchmaking during the second Temple period (before Jerusalem fell in 70 CE). The holiday would bring out all the unmarried girls to the vineyards outside the city of Jerusalem, dressed in white (so the rich girls couldn’t be distinguished from the penniless ones), where they would dance. And unmarried young men would go to the vineyards to find a nice girl to take home to Mum.
More recently Tu B’Av has been marketed heavily as the Jewish alternative to Valentines Day, which has meant a good sales day for the shops selling cards (by the way, is there a reason why Israelis don’t usually go for gift cards?), flowers, lingerie and, of course, chocolates. If you couldn’t tell already, Tu B’Av is considered a very special day on which to tie the knot.
Crap, I always forget this day and never buy my Israeli wife anything. I know, I know, naughty boy (though I do usually remember Valentines Day). But you lot, this is your chance for some extra Brownie points! Go surprise your other half and wow them with your inside knowledge of Jewish customs and holidays. And if you’re already one of The Tribe, I might just have saved you from the doghouse…