Some Laws and Customs of Tisha b'Av

Some Laws and Customs of Tisha b'Av from Cong. Mt. Sinai of Washington Heights.

Since Shabbat is the day of Tisha B'Av, Ashkenazic practice is that private practices of mourning apply.  Consequently marital relations are prohibited and married couples should refrain from other forms of physical intimacy as well (RAMA 554:19). The lone exception to this is when mikva night falls out on Friday night (MB 554:40).  Other harchakot do not apply.
It is forbidden to prepare from Shabbat to Tisha B'av.  Hence, one may not don Tisha b'Av shoes while it is still Shabbat.  Tisha b'Av shoes should be brought to Shul before Shabbat and put on after Barchu.  Alternatively, those who will be at home at the conclusion of Shabbat (8:57 pm)  should say " Baruch Hamavdil bein Kodesh L'Chol," and then put their Tisha B'Av footgear and come to Shul for Maariv.  Maariv will begin at 9:07 PM.  (Please note the change in time.)
At Maariv on motzei shabbat we will say attah chonantanu in shmoneh esrei and recite borei me'orei ha'eish on two candles before reading Eicha and reciting Kinnot. (Men and women who will not be in Shul should recite a borei me'orei ha'eish for themselves at home.) At the conclusion of Tisha B'Av (Sunday evening), an abbreviated havdala with the brachot of hagafen and hamavdil are recited. We do not recite the bracha on besamim on either night.
One who received halachic guidance to eat on Sunday when the fast of Tisha B'Av is observed should recite havdala (with the brachot of shehakol and hamavdil) over beer, coffee, or pure orange juice before eating; one should not recite havdala on wine or grape juice on the date Tisha B'Av is observed.  One who eats a full meal on Tisha B'Av should insert Nachem in Birkat haMazon according to RAMA (end of 557); GRA and others maintain that Nachem need not be inserted into birkat haMazon.
On Sunday when Tisha B'Av is observed, please remember the five main prohibitions: washing, using perfumes and other lotions for pleasure, wearing leather shoes, marital relations,  eating and drinking.

Shalom and Regards,
RRW