A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Home for the Holidays Hanukkah?

I am hoping someone can share with us.

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and it starts on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. A long time ago, when Antiochus IV was ruler, he began oppressing the Jews. He started killing them and made practicing Judaism a crime. When it came time for the time of re-dedication (which was practiced annually), there was not enough oil for the menorah in the temple. The menorah was to burn all night every night for 8 days. They only had enough oil for the menorah to burn for one night, but amazingly, it burned for the 8 nights. So, an 8 day festival was declared to remember this miracle.

Here is a link to the current Jewish calendar... Kislev

Here is a link that explains the Jewish calendar... Yearly Calendar

That site also has other information on Jewish holidays and celebrations along with the rules for the dreidel game.

thank you jenn!

Thanks Jenn.

Lynne, can you actually tell us how you celebrate within your family?

Sorry I haven't answered this before - I'm having a rough time of things here at home these days...

To answer Tamara's question... now that the kids are grown, we don't do a whole lot of celebrating. We do make sure to light the candles on the menorah each of the 8 nights, reciting the prayer while we do so. Then we might exchange gifts, but lately we've not really been doing that. Amy will get a few small gifts this year, and Brian will get some $ deposited into his account since he lives too far to visit for the holiday. Don and I are not exchanging any gifts this year due to the expenses of the pond.

Last year, we invited some friends over, as well as my parents, and Don made latkes (potato pancakes) while I made matzoh ball soup for Charlie who is a vegetarian and requested it. He brought a gorgeous and delicious salad, and I think I also had some meat or chicken - can't remember!

Here is a link to my post from last year - Cindy was kind enough to find it for me!
Our Chanukah 2006

I haven't put out any decorations this year because the weather has been too crummy - very very cold, with lots of rain and bits of snow. It's ok though... most of the other people on our street celebrat Christmas and they don't decorate at all for the most part.