Tu Bishvat

Essentially a new year for trees, the origins of Tu Bishvat can be found in the Mishnah - the six orders of the Oral Tradition.

Why do we celebrate Tu Bishvat?
"...and on the first of Shevat is the New Year for Trees, according to the view of the School of Shammai. But the School of Hillel say, on the 15th of that month (Shevat)."

What are the customs of Tu Bishvat?
Today, Tu Bishvat is celebrated in numerous ways: by planting trees, by eating fruit (especially fruit that is indigenous to Israel), by having a "Tu Bishvat Seder", by doing some special project for the environment, or by collecting funds to plant trees in Israel.