Every year people express their affection for those they love on various holidays. Their expression can take the form of, romantic dinners, flowers or candy, or even some kind of special gift. 

In Israel, one such celebration is the minor holiday, Tu B’Av, also known as Chag HaAhavah, the Holiday of Love, which will be celebrated this year beginning at sundown July 26. Meanwhile, in the United States, and other parts of the world, Valentine’s Day is upon us. 

These two holidays, while similar in some aspects, differ in their origins, traditions, histories and how they are celebrated now. Additionally, many Jewish Americans do not know much about Tu B’Av.

Tu B’Av is a celebratory holiday whose beginnings date back to ancient Israel, signaling the start of the grape harvest. The holiday is held annually, on the 15th of Av, which corresponds to the summer months of July or August.

“[Tu B’Av] comes after Tisha B’Av — which can be counted as the saddest day on the Hebrew calendar,” said Rabbi Andrea Goldstein at Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Many Jewish students never have the opportunity to learn about Tu B’Av.

“Though the Talmud says [Tu B’Av] is one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar, it has always been a minor holy day in Jewish tradition. Therefore, there is not a lot of education about it. It also occurs in the summer, when most young people are not in religious school, so it is not often touched upon in religious education settings,” Goldstein said.

Philip Nadel, originally from San Diego, Calif., now lives in Kfar Saba, Israel. Nadel is a Reform rabbi at Kehillat YOZMA in Modiin and is familiar with the celebration of Tu B’Av in Israel.

“[There is] no formal celebration of [Tu B’av] at the synagogue. [Except] perhaps a sermon or d’var Torah with a theme inspired by the holiday,” Nadel said.

There are both spiritual and traditional components related to the celebration of Tu B’Av. It starts on a full moon on the lunar calendar, giving the night an atmosphere of love, according to long-established beliefs. In ancient times, it was customary for women to wear white. They wore these clothes and danced in the vineyards outside of Jerusalem’s walls. The men went to the fields as well in hopes of getting wives. 

Tu B’Av also has spiritual meaning. During the holiday, the white clothes that Jewish women wore were lent to them by other women, so that no one would feel bad if they couldn’t afford to buy their own. This also helped to encourage men not to choose a woman to marry based on her wealth. 

“After a day that marks the Destruction of the Temple, it is a joy to have a day where harvest, fruit and love are celebrated…however, the idea of young single women gathering to dance for the purpose of attracting men to marriage does not resonate for me at all as a modern woman,” Goldstein said.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Valentine’s Day is also a holiday of love. It is celebrated annually on February 14th with romantic meals and gift exchanges. It is also celebrated in many other countries such as Denmark, France and the Philippines. 

“On Valentine’s Day…every year my family always has fondue as a fun family dinner,” Rebecca Sachs, a sophomore at Ladue Horton Watkins High School and a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth said.

The origins of Valentine’s Day are connected with the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. Later, in the third century AD, on February 14th, two different men named Valentine were martyred by the Catholic Church after being put to death. Years later, Pope Gelasius I blended Lupercalia and St. Valentine’s Day, ultimately creating a day dedicated to love. 

Although Tu B’Av and Valentine’s Day may be different in many ways, there are some similarities. For both holidays, chocolate is a popular food and restaurants and meals often have a romantic flair. Both holidays are a time in which people may choose to get married, engaged, renew their vows and take time to reflect. Further, many gifts are heart-shaped and red and pink are common colors for both Tu B’Av and Valentine’s Day.

“In Israel, Tu B’Av places a greater emphasis on music and dancing as being more integral parts of the holiday, which I like. For secular Israelis, Tu B’Av is a day where love is commercialized and commoditized by companies and businesses. So, in this respect, it is very similar to the way we celebrate Valentine’s Day in the United States,” Goldstein said.

Not only do the two holidays share commonalities, but some believe they also contribute to the popularity of each other.

Roslyn Roucher grew up in Decatur, Ill. She  works for the Via Sabra tour company, as a content manager and exercise guru. She is married to Rabbi Philip Nadel and lives with him in Kfar Saba, Israel.

“The thing I’ve noticed most about Tu B’Av is how it seems to be getting more popular because people are more aware of Valentine’s Day,” she said. “Often Israelis want to celebrate things that are celebrated in America…more and more people are celebrating Valentine’s Day- maybe even more than Tu B’Av.”

Most importantly, both Valentine’s Day and Tu B’Av provide opportunities for people to pause their normal routines and appreciate their loved ones.

Goldstein said she had one couple who wanted to get married on Tu B’Av.

“They found the notion of being married on the ‘Jewish day of love’ romantic and meaningful for them,” she said.