Tu B’Av, on 15 Av, is both an ancient and modern holiday, which takes place a few days after Tisha B’Av , the Day of Mourning the destruction of the two Temples and the exile of Israel. Tu B’Av falls exactly six months after Tu B’Svat. Whereas Tu B’Svat brings in the spring, Tu B’Av heralds the autumn.
Originally a post-biblical day of joy, it served as a matchmaking day for unmarried women in the second Temple period (before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.). Tu B'Av was almost unnoticed in the Jewish calendar for many centuries but it has been rejuvenated in recent decades, especially in modern Israel. In its modern incarnation it is gradually becoming a Hebrew-Jewish Day of Love, slightly resembling Valentine's Day in English-speaking countries.
It should be noted that Tu B'Av, like several Jewish holidays (Pesach, Sukkot, Tu Bishvat) begins on the night between the 14th and 15th day of the Hebrew month, since this is the night of a full moon in our lunar calendar. Linking the night of a full moon with romance, love, and fertility is not uncommon in ancient cultures.
Today, Israeli civil culture promotes festivals of singing and dancing on the night of Tu B'Av. The entertainment and beauty industries work overtime on this date. It has no formal legal status as a holiday, it is a regular workday, nor has the Israeli rabbinate initiated any addition to the liturgy or called for the introduction of any ancient religious practices.
References:
Falcon PhD, Rabbi T. and Blatner, D. (2001) Judaism for Dummies, Hungry Minds, New York.
www.chabad.org/holidays
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