At sundown last night, many local Jewish people celebrated a little known yet important holiday, Tu B'Shvat, which marks the New Year of the Trees.

The holiday is rooted in ancient Israel and was a way for people to keep track of the ages of trees according to the Jewish calendar.

Each tree is one year older on Tu B'Shvat.

According to ancient Israeli law, a tree's age dictated whether citizens were allowed to eat its fruit.

"The first three years you wouldn't be able to eat fruit, the fourth year you'd have to bring the fruit to Jerusalem, and on the fifth year you could eat the fruit," said Rabbi Nosson Meretsky, director of Chabad House, 324 E. Prospect Ave.

Today, many Jewish people celebrate the holiday by attending Seders where they eat different types of fruit, read lines from the Torah concerning fruit and growth, and drink from the four cups of blessed wine.

Meretsky said Tu B'Shvat is not a major Jewish holiday.

"It's a smaller holiday, definitely lesser known," he said.

Meretsky said Jewish people try to eat the seven fruits that Israel is praised for, including wheat, barley, figs, dates, grapes, olives and pomegranates.

He added that the New Year of Trees also carries deeper meanings.

"We focus on what we can learn through trees," he said. "Trees are always growing and giving fruits, just as every person is growing and learning and becoming a better person."

Avia Reuveni (senior-science and Jewish studies) said she observes the holiday because it is important to keep the custom alive.

"There's a lot of meaning behind it actually," she said. "It's important to speak of the trees. It's passing down tradition."

Jeremy Weisblatt, coordinator of a Penn State Hillel Seder held last night in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, said Tu B'Shvat is not celebrated by nearly as many people as other Jewish holidays, such as Passover and Hanukkah.

"Most people are not aware of it because it's not a major holiday," he said. "We are not commanded to observe it."

Weisblatt added that the holiday first came about in the seventeenth century as a way to connect with Israel.

"It is not an official holiday, but it is important," he said. "We eat exotic fruits and think about the earth."

One student said this is the first year he chose to celebrate the New Year of the Trees.

"I've always known that it was happening," said Avi Sadiky (junior-kinesiology), who attended a Seder last night. "Now I'm trying it out."