The three weeks
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The three weeks are days of mourning commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem within Judaism. Jewish law forbids taking a haircut or shaving or listening to music during this time. No Jewish marriages are allowed during these three weeks because that would involve too much joy at a time when Jews are traditionally supposed to mourn for the destruction of their ancient temples. Nine days prior to Tisha B'Av are The Nine Days of more intense mourning when animal meat is not eaten (fish is allowed), wine is not consumed. During this time, freshly laundered clothes are not worn and warm baths are not taken by Ashkenazi Jews. Sephardic tradition requires these last observances starting the Sunday before Tisha B'Av and dispenses of them on years when the fast falls on Sunday. Many congregations do not eat meat until the day after the fast.
The three weeks start on the seventeenth day of the Jewish month of Tamuz -- the Seventeenth of Tammuz -- and end on the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av -- on Tisha B'Av. Both of those days are fast days.