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holiday guide
Creative ways to celebrate Hanukkah
Many jokes have been shared about
the complexity of growing up Jewish surrounded
by Christian friends and the
overwhelming infl uence of Christmas
come the month of December. Seemingly
everywhere you look, buildings, stores,
and homes are decked out in lights and
decorations. But Christmas celebrants are
not the only ones with reason to be festive
this time of year, when Hanukkah is also
cause for celebration.
Perhaps due to its proximity to
Th anksgiving and Christmas, Hanukkah
tends to be the most widely celebrated
Jewish holiday in America. Even though
it is offi cially listed as a minor holiday,
Hanukkah is important to families across
the globe. In fact, because the basis of
Hanukkah is rededication to the faith, it
very well may be an instrumental celebration
for families who may need to fi nd
their way back to the roots of their beliefs.
Hanukkah celebrations may not feature
lavishly decorated trees or scores of celebrants
belting out carols, but it bears signifi
cance for the thousands of people who
celebrate each year. While Hanukkah is
steeped in tradition, the following are a
handful of ways you can add a creative
spin to your family’s festivities this year:
Light
One of the major tenets of Hanukkah
is how light can shine and lead a person
through dark periods. Th is is typically
exemplifi ed by the lighting of the menorah,
which is prominently placed in windows
or other visible areas of celebrants’ homes.
Th is Hanukkah, spend time with someone
who may be dealing with an illness or
the loss of a loved one. You may be the light
that inspires this person each day. Give candles
to friends and family members to symbolize
the light that will shine in the future.
Oil
Another component of Hanukkah celebrations
is the focus on how a one-day
supply of oil somehow lasted eight days
during the rededication of the temple’s
menorah. Many ways to include oil in celebrations
exist. Some people like to get
creative in the kitchen, serving fried foods
and desserts.
Th ink about giving gift s of oil, such as
fragrant essential oils that can be used
in potpourri or in the bath or shower.
Working alongside their parents, children
can see how a wick drenched in oil
can serve as an effi cient lighting source
and decorate the home with these homemade
oil lamps.
Twenty-fi ve
Bring attention to the number 25, which
is signifi cant when celebrating Hanukkah.
Th e word Hanukkah can be divided into
two: Hanu, meaning “they rested,” and
Kkah, which is the numerical value of 25.
On the 25th day of the Hebrew month
of Kislev, the Maccabees rested from
their battle with the Greeks and triumphantly
marched into the Holy Temple in
Jerusalem. Make 25 a part of celebrations
by inviting 25 people to celebrate with you
or ask children to make murals with 25
diff erent adornments.
Charitable giving
Gift -giving is now a component of
Hanukkah celebrations, but it wasn’t
always. Greater importance was once
placed on the lighting of candles to
publicize the miracle and evangelize
the faith. Some poor people could not
aff ord candles, and these people would
go door-to-door for candle funds, or
“gelt,” to be able to purchase candles and
kiddush wine.
Some Jewish families prefer to give
money rather than gift s on Hanukkah
to keep with the tradition of Hanukkah
gelt. However, families also can incorporate
charitable giving in their celebrations
as a way to reinforce the customs of giving
to the poor.
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