Learn How to Celebrate Hanukkah

Hanukkah or Chanukah is a Jewish holiday celebrated in December on the western calendar, but on the Jewish calendar it always starts on the 25th day of Kislev. The central focal point of the holiday is the menorah. The menorah holds 9 candles. Eight candles represent the eight days of Hanukkah and the ninth the Shamus is used to light the other candles. The meaning behind Hanukkah is to celebrate the miracle of the light burning in the Temple. There was only enough oil to last for one day and instead it burned for eight days. This miracle is the basis for the holiday the Festival Of Lights.

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Decorating for Hanukkah, is not quite the same as decorating for Xmas.Stores are not filled with aisles of lighted decorations that sparkle and shine. Being creative can be fun for your family. Large banners saying Happy Hanukkah are a fun addition. Dreidels cut from brightly colored or metallic paper and hung from the ceiling give a festive look. Twinkle lights in white or blue can be hung around the room or even on the outside of your house. But the key decoration in any Jewish home is the menorah. It can be electric or candle burning. The selection of menorahs in stores each year gets bigger and bigger. Perhaps this year you can have one family menorah and then let each of the kids have their own menorah. Be creative let the kids choose their own or maybe even make one.

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Secondly, what to eat for Hanukkah, no Hanukkah celebration would be complete without potato Latkes. Flat patties made of grated potatoes with added ingredients and then fried in oil. Latkes are always served with applesauce or sour cream. Blintzes a form of crepes that are usually filled with cheese are also very popular. They are accompanied with jams and powdered sugar. All types of meat are quite popular especially those meats that are breaded and fried in oil. A hearty Brisket is also a familiar site on the Hanukkah Table. No Jewish family would deny the importance of food during the Hanukkah celebration.

Lastly, if you asked a child what Hanukkah was about, they would tell you the gifts. Each of the eight nights of Hanukkah a gift is given to each child. It can be money or a gift. Because there are so many gifts to be given keep in mind each gift does not have to be expensive. It is the tradition that matters. Some families give each child one big gift then small token gifts for the other nights. It is important for your children to understand the true meaning of Hanukkah.