For those of us who are looking outside and seeing rain, snow, sleet and/or generally crap weather, we may have a hard time remembering the colorful gifts of the Lord’s bounty. But today is Tu B’Shvat, the “New Year For Trees,” a day for honoring nature and all that it provides. It may seem strange to do this in the dead of winter, but perhaps that’s when we most need to be reminded of the privilege and responsibility of living on this great green planet.
Jewish super site Aish.com has a terrific template to make your own Tu B’Shvat seder by feasting on the seven species of fruit native to Israel (figs, dates, pomegranates, olives, grapes or raisins and grains- all available at your local grocery, even if you live in Alaska) as well as nuts, seeds and wine. This holiday also cues us to increase our awareness of our consumptive habits; there are always opportunities to recycle and reduce the burden on the trees (yo, you at the coffeeshop! You only need one napkin, ‘k?)
So though the big maple in our yard lost its last leaf a month ago and looks like a gnarled old crone, we’re going to bundle up and venture outside to press a cheek to its bark, having faith that it will return from its slumber to emerge in a cloud of green come spring.