• On Shabbat, all public displays of mourning are strictly prohibited. On this day we eat, drink and rejoice as is customary—and even more so.

•  It is forbidden to study Torah starting with Shabbat midday (aside for those sections of Torah which are permitted to be studied on Tisha B’Av).

• No mournful “separation meal” is conducted before the fast. Instead, shortly before sunset we partake of a sumptuous and joyous pre-fast meal. Care must be taken, however, that this meal ends before sunset.

• We sit on chairs of regular height and wear normal footwear until nightfall. Only washing, eating and drinking are prohibited starting with sunset (This year, at 8:04PM).

• Havdalah is recited on Sunday night. Those who have not recited the evening prayers should say, before doing any activity that is forbidden on Shabbat, “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol” (“Blessed is He who separates between the holy [day of Shabbat] and the mundane [weekday]”).

• Recite the havdalah on Sunday night before eating—omitting the blessings on the spices and candle. If possible, the havdalah wine or grape juice should be given to a child—younger than bar/bat mitzvah age—to drink.

• Immediately after the “Barchu” passage is recited in the Saturday night prayer service, remove your leather shoes and don non-leather footwear.

• Eat or drink
• Wear leather footwear
• Bathe or wash ourselves (washing only until the knuckle when mandated by halachah)
• Apply ointments or creams
• Engage in marital relations or any form of intimacy
• Sit on a normal-height chair until chatzot (the time when the sun has reached its apex)
• Study Torah (except for the “sad” parts that deal with the destruction of the Temples, etc.)
• Send gifts, or even greet one another (you may respond to greetings)
• Engage in outings, trips or similar pleasurable activities
• Wear fine, festive clothing