Debating the merits of Hanukkah versus Christmas goes back for generations. In this holiday sound-off, we’ll look at the music, traditions, forced family interaction, and even the national uproar regarding retail signage.
Hanukah can be a time when gift giving gets out of control. This year, Jason and I tackled the problem head on and came up with creative ways to make family gifts more meaningful.
Although the Book of Maccabees and the siddur attribute the victory to God, nothing would have happened unless the Maccabeees picked up their swords and shields and went to battle.
You know when you walk into a store, a movie theatre, a restaurant, a bus, really ANYWHERE anytime after Thanksgiving, and you buy your gift, movie ticket, meal, bus ticket and so on, you inevitably get wished a “Merry Christmas?” How do you feel about that? Warm and fuzzy or … not so much?
It sits on my shelf, a poor relation to the stone menorah with its carvings of children holding up our candles every Hanukkah. THAT menorah is weighty with memories. THAT menorah is staying home.
Yes, indeed you are still reading a Jewish blog, But let’s just face it people, Santa is a part of our world. He’s magical, friendly, brings presents and is absolutely everywhere during the holiday season.
The holiday season is upon us. In one short week, Hanukkah and its eight nights of fried food madness commence. Now, I may be a purist with many things — and often that includes baking — but I have a nifty trick I think you’re going to like: jelly-filled donuts, or sufganiyot, in roughly 15 minutes, with no frying. Is it blasphemy to serve a baked version of a traditionally fried food during the holiday centered around oil? Probably — but I’m doing it anyway.
Hanukkah is just about upon us, beginning at sundown on Friday, December 11th and running until sundown on Saturday, December 19th. This installment of the Alef List will focus on the cool things to do for Hanukkah.
Hanukkah is a great example of the Jewish Holiday motto “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat.” If you want the rest of the details for the holiday – you know, questions like Who tried to kill us? How did we win? What do we eat? Where can I buy great Hanukkah gifts in the Twin Cities? What are cool Hanukkah events in Minneapolis and St. Paul? – don’t miss TC Jewfolk’s 2009 Hanukkah blog series.
Ah, Hanukkah. (And yes, that’s my default spelling; feel free to disagree with me, but that’s how I roll.) The scent of fried potatoes, half-melted chocolates, gift-wrapping stress, and of course, the annual pressure of creating nightly candle color schemes. I’m not going to lie, I’m a total Hanukkah cynic.
