A Unique New Year
It has been asked, why do we have special customs on this New Year when similar days - the 1st of Elul (New Year for Animal Tithes) and 1st of Nissan (New Year for Fixing Reigns and Festivals) - have no unique forms of commemoration in the Jewish calendar, and have virtually disappeared from the calendar?

The rabbis had a simple and meaningful answer for us: The 15th of Shvat is a day dedicated to the praises of the Land of Israel. The day is one of joy because the land begins to bring forth the harvest, to produce fruits and to "show off" its splendor.

Fruits Symbolize Blessing
The Land of Israel is particularly singled out in the Bible as being a good land because of the fruits of its trees, as it is written:
"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of rivers and springs. . .a land of wheat and barley, and grapevines and figs and pomegranates; a land laden with olives and [date] honey." - Deutoronomy 8:7-8

So the Land of Israel is blessed with five fruits and two forms of grain. When the people of Israel eat of these, and taste their goodness, and say the blessings on them, then they recall the Source of this bounty and their eyes are turned in prayer for the fulfillment of the verse: ". . .and you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord your God on the good land that He has given you."

Is a Tree Like a Man?
In a moving piece of legislation, the people of Israel are commanded not to destroy fruit trees during war, for "Is the tree of the field a man that he should be besieged?" (Deut. 20:19)

The rabbis saw in this rhetorical question a deeper link between humanity and trees. They write that just as trees are judged on Tu B'Shvat, there is some element of judgment of people also. This adds another dimension to the holiday, one of joy, for traditionally, the Jewish people have always welcomed the notion of Justice, and have put their faith in the Provider of all things.

When Eating the Fruits
Some people eat seven fruits (for the seven species); others eat 15 fruits (for 15th of Shvat). Some eat the fruits as part of a festive meal; others eat them separately.

There are those who eat the seven species specifically, while others will eat fruits that remind us of Israel, especially almonds, carobs and apples. You should try to eat the fruits fresh (in order to say the required blessing) but you can eat them dried, cooked or candied.

Some guidelines:
Even if the blessing on the bread has been made at the beginning of the meal, one should have in mind to say special blessings on the fruits: ". . . Boreh Pri Haetz." "Blessed are You, Our Lord and King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree."

If many fruits are set out on the table, then the most important fruit should be chosen first, the blessing for which will serve for all the remaining fruits.

If fruits of the Land are among those on the table - olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates - then these should be eaten first, and in this order of priority (see: Book of Our Heritage). Some Sephardi Jews, it should be noted, make a point of eating foods made from the two species of grain, prior to eating from the fruits of Eretz Yisrael.

A new fruit should be eaten, if possible. The general custom is to say the blessing: ". . . Shehecheyanu, Vekiyemanu, Vehigiyanu, Lazman Hazeh." after the blessing on the fruit. Some reverse the order in favor of the special significance of eating a new fruit on this day. "Blessed are You, Our Lord and King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this special occasion."

Eating from the Etrog
There is a beautiful custom of eating jam or a similar delicacy made from the etrog (citron) used on the festival of Sukkot for the ceremony of waving the four species. Often that very same etrog was planted on Tu B'Shvat some years before.