There was no moon last night, which means today is the first day of Rosh Chodesh.  In particular, last night and today are the Rosh Chodesh of Sh’vat.

Now, since we have multiple new years in our religion, it could be considered the 5th month of the year (the traditional one whereby Rosh Hashana [literally translated as the New Year], or the 11th month (which is when one counts from the month of Nisan, the month of Pesach Passover), when we first freed as a Jewish people.  That date is known as the New Year for Kings and Festivals.  The name of this current month (Sh’vat) was adopted when we were captives in Babylon- and it is first mentioned in our Tanach (the Complete Jewish Bible) by the prophet Zechariah (Verse 7 of the first chapter).

It’s also the Chinese New Year.  One of the most important holidays in the Chinese tradition, one celebrated by some billion folks around the world.   Both deities and ancestors are honored on this holiday. And, then, this is the time the Chinese clear out their homes, so the new year will start with a clean slate.  (Kind of like our cleaning the homes for Passover, which most Christians adopted to effect what they call “Spring Cleaning”.)

Oh, yeah.  Today is also the first day individuals are allowed to file their taxes.   (Businesses have been free to do so since the start of the new year.)

If you haven’t gotten your stuff in order, now is the time to reread my post from a past Christmas (25 December 2020), where I outlined the documents you could need to file your taxes.

Oh, and in two weeks, we Jews will celebrate yet another New Year.  The New Year for Trees (Israeli Arbor Day), aptly called Tu B’Shvat [the 15th day of Sh’vat).  This year,  the English date is 5 February (night time), ending at dusk on the 6th.   It is customary to plant trees for this holiday, and many of us Jews have a special Seder (akin to that for Pesach), where we drink four glasses of wine, and devour 10 specific fruits and nuts.

 

(For your information, the 4th new Year we celebrate in our religion is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the month occurring before Tishrei [the ‘New Year for Years’, which is when tithing of cattle begins.)