When was Tisha B'Av introduced as a formal day of commemoration in Judaism?

[FUNK SOUL FITZ]

I'm sorry if my wording or spelling is wrong I'm researching Jewish festivals for a subject at school and am curious as to when it became a proper day of commemoration. Was it commemorated before the destruction of the second temple? Possibly even under a different name? Thanks

 

[Ambivalent LAUreate]

It's certainly mentioned in the Talmud so it might be before the destruction of the second temple. I'll star in the hope that some of my more learned colleagues chance along.

 

[allonyoav]

There is a discussion over the variuous minor fast days (Either masechat Moed Katan or masechta Taanis- I can't recall offhand). There it is stated that Tiosha b'Av was observed as a fast after the destruction of the First Temple, became a festival when the Temple was rebuilt, and became a fast again when the Second Temple was destroyed. The end of this section states that in the time of Mashiach, the fasts we have for sad events in Jewish history will once again become feasts and days of celebration.

 

[Cheryl (Bären Jude)]

Around the end of the Talmudic period, I believe.

 

[?mama pajama?]

It was apparently a fast day from the time of the destruction of the First Temple, as this passage appears to indicate a prophetic vision of the future messianic age that will turn this day from a day of mourning to one of joyous celebration in worship:
"The fast day of the fifth month (Tisha B'Av) will yet become for the household of Israel a day of rejoicing and of happiness."(Zecharia 8:19).

However, after the destruction of the Second Temple, the sages who wrote down the Oral Torah gave us many of the customs to help us remember. Sadly, this date has other tragedies to the Jewish people that happened even after the destruction of the Second Temple.

Here are references that should help you with your school project: