Tonight, the first night of Chanukah, I take out the brass menorah and crack open the box of multi-colored candles. Setting it on my mantel, I am ready to share with you my lifelong experience of the little holiday with its eight days of minor glory.
It’s a Jewish holiday, but not really a religious holiday—no services or solemn remembrance—more of a nod to history, and an occasion for games (dreidel), singing (Rock of Ages), gifts (guaranteed), ethnic foods (especially oily for Chanukah only).
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” as my luntsman (in the old country, a fellow Jew from the same shtetl) Jerry Seinfeld famously said.
My best wishes to my readers for the holiday season, whatever your celebration. Chanukah—otherwise known as the Festival of Lights—starts tonight. Winter Solstice arrives on the 21st, Christmas Eve/Day the 24th/25th, then Kwanzaa from the 26th to January 1st. There’s no time to rest from celebration for the entire month of December.
It is customary in Jewish families for the children to receive one present on each of the eight nights. My little brother Stuart and I lit the menorah, adding another candle each night until it flamed ever so brightly on the eighth. After reciting the brief prayers, we finally received our gifts which our mom had hidden in the coat closet. We knew the location of the stash but the boxes were already wrapped so it didn’t do us any good to snoop.
In some families, each child has their own menorah. The cumulative effect of dozens of candles is a beautiful sight indeed. There will be many dark nights once the box of candles is depleted in Jewish homes and Christmas lights and ornaments are taken down in the cold light of January.
My mother made traditional holiday dishes, crunchy potato pancakes deep-fried in oil (Potato Latkes), then topped with apple sauce or sour cream. My grandmother made the jelly donuts called Sufganiyot that appeared only for this holiday. I never saw a green vegetable during the eight days!
But Chanukah is a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar, not to be compared to Christmas which is significant in its religious meaning and family traditions. Families don’t travel across the country to celebrate (that is for Passover in the spring and Jewish New Year in the fall) and greeting cards are not exchanged.
Chanukah may occur as early as the end of November or late in December, as the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars do not coincide. Sometimes the eight days overlap Christmas but that is purely coincidental—the two holidays are in no way related.
We always received one BIG present. The rest were smaller but still highly anticipated. One each day totaling eight seemed like an endless stream of riches. I recall a few specific gifts from my childhood, a paint-by-numbers set, a stuffed animal with floppy ears—Morgan the dog, my treasured Ginny doll, and a Chinese Checkers set, marbles held by shallow depressions in a colorful tin tray.
Other relatives, aunts, uncles and grandparents, dished out Chanukah “gelt,” meaning cash, maybe a five or ten-dollar bill which they always told us to save for college—if only we had invested those funds for the long term. And gifts were for children only, adults just buy but don’t usually receive them.
My little grandson needs another vehicle and I’m on the lookout for a gift of some form of transportation, his abiding passion for now.
When I was eight or nine years old, our temple conducted a holiday decoration contest. I created a holiday table setting in miniature in an oblong department store gift box, laying down orange construction paper for the tablecloth. I covered little Chiclet boxes with wrapping paper as the gift to accompany each place setting. I piled buttons in the plates to impersonate potato pancakes.
I can still feel the thrill of the moment when I heard my name called for first prize. I thought for sure that the shiny sword and shield crafted by Seth G. would prevail, just as the Maccabees actually did in ancient times.
I have sweet memories of these simple rituals and traditions, and basically carried them out unchanged with my own children. They are doing the same for theirs, my grandchildren.
I do love my holiday involving light and warmth, foods and surprises, family and cheer, based upon a miracle—the wicks of the lamps staying lit in the temple for eight days [circa 165 BCE] with only one day of sacred oil remaining.
With the many festive celebrations on the upcoming December calendar, it’s not yet time to ponder resolutions for the year ahead. That will come soon enough, when New England winter places obstacles in our everyday freedom of movement and cuts drastically into the daylight.
It’s a light-hearted time to affirm all that is good and possible, as hard as it’s been this year. To revel in light, briefly. To spread good will, generously. To carry on traditions, joyfully. To recall sweet times of childhood and the comforting presence of dear people who shared those eight sweet days with me, gone for a long time now.
Each played their important part—Grandpa reached into his pocket to peel off dollar bills, my mother placed the lit menorah on the window ledge, my Aunt Jean chain-smoked cigarettes at the dinner table, my dad broke out the holiday songs from his record collection, my little brother grabbed too many jelly donuts from the dish.
And my prize-winning miniature table setting was displayed on the sideboard.
The family across the street—Goldie and Lou, with Rona and Harvey in tow—coming out of the cold, taking off their winter coats and joining us, I miss them too.
As Muhammed Ali observed, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a Maccabee.” Hanukah is a warming, inspiring holiday.
Josh, you are too funny! As was M.A. Best wishes for the holiday season.
What a lovely remembrance of your Hanukahs, which reminds me of the Hanukahs spent with my own children, with gifts on every night of the eight days. I tried to make it sound better than Christmas, which was celebrated on only one night, though with multiple gifts. They never bought my propaganda but I did try! Thank you for this sweet piece.
Davida, thank you for reading my Chanukah piece, I’m glad it brought up sweet memories.
You warmed my heart, as we just returned from our family Chanakah party complete with latkes, jelly donuts, presents and plenty of noise. It was perfect! It unites Jews everywhere with generations past, present, and future.
Carol
Yes, indeed, it is a favorite holiday for me, along with Pesach. So glad you can enjoy it with the Fam!
Your decoration you made as a child sounds wonderful Barrie. This sounds so festive and full of surprises. Have a blessed holiday Barrie, hope you find a Big Truck for your little one. Many blessings friend
Thank you Magdeld—and it’s nice to see you on my blog!
Last night I took out my menorah which my parents gave me on the first Chanukah that I was married. It may be 54 years old & I’ve acquired new menorahs since then but I always use that one. Wishing you & yours the happiest of Chanukahs.
Thank you Rosanna—and you are so fortunate to have the treasured menorah.
Awww… Loved this post. Now living in France with no blood family makes me a bit sad but your writing brings back those warm, cozy nights and the special feeling I always got as a child when it was my turn to light the menorah. I will be making my famous latkas in oil with homemade sour cream. And creating some of that warm feeling in my new country. Thank you for sharing and warming my heart with this post.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessing to you and yours this Chanukah.
Thank you Erin for your wishes, and I send mine in return, hoping you are feeling more and more at home in France. My cousin Sherry has lived in Paris for about thirty years and generously allows me to stay in her apartment in Pantin—she says I’m overdue for a visit!
And thank you too for your support of my blog, I appreciate each and every one of my readers.
Very enjoyable reading and a great tutorial for those unfamiliar with the holiday. Every family has their own traditions which are often carried out down through the generations. This year, we did something we’ve never done before–attended two different Chabad Hanukkah parties with each of our children and their families. Lots of fun and a slightly different perspective. Have a wonderful Hanukkah!
Thanks Judy, it’s a nice time of year.
A lovely description of Chanukah
Thank you Anne. Hope you are enjoying the season.
Do you still have your Ginny doll? I have mine.
Happy Hannukah!
Nope, don’t have my Ginny Doll. Boo hoo!
Hi Barrie, This piece is full of detail and memories. It’s warm and inviting. I hope you have a wonderful Chanukah with your family and friends.
Thank you Diane for liking my piece. Yes, the holiday was nice this year, quiet though, as my grandchildren are not in this area.