Celebrations
Chanukah, the 8 day and night Jewish Festival of Lights, begins tonight at sundown. After dark Jews living in Israel and in countries around the world will use a service candle called the shamesh to kindle the first candle furthest to the right on the branched candelabra known as a menorah. Blessings will be said in Hebrew before this special nightly candle lighting ceremony over the next eight evenings of the holiday.
Our oldest son on the first night of Hanukkah a few years back
Our oldest son on the first night of Hanukkah a few years backVintage family photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com
Then families and friends -- children and adults -- will gather to sing songs, play with the dreidel, a toy top that you spin, and eat customary foods fried in oil such as latkes potato pancakes and sufganiot jelly donuts. Kids especially enjoy receiving Hanukkah gelt money which depending on the age of the recipient means gold foil covered chocolate coins for little ones and cash, checks or gift cards for teens. Traditionally, to publicize this historical event, Hanukkah candles are lit in the front window of one's home or by a doorway.
Gold Hanukkah menorah & coins
Then families and friends -- children and adults -- will gather to sing songs, play with the dreidel, a toy top that you spin, and eat customary foods fried in oil such as latkes potato pancakes and sufganiot jelly donuts. Kids especially enjoy receiving Hanukkah gelt money which depending on the age of the recipient means gold foil covered chocolate coins for little ones and cash, checks or gift cards for teens. Traditionally, to publicize this historical event, Hanukkah candles are lit in the front window of one's home or by a doorway.
Gold Hanukkah menorah & coinsiPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com
Watch for a new post on each of the subsequent nights of Hanukkah.
Meanwhile, check out these other 2011 Chanukah posts
Make your own Hanukkah Gingerbread House
Paper Hanukkah Menorah Centerpiece Decoration
To read additional MBE posts from past years use the search window and enter the word Hanukkah in the right hand column of this blog.
How will you be spending Hanukkah this year? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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FTC Disclosure: This blog did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog,including this one.
Watch for a new post on each of the subsequent nights of Hanukkah.
Meanwhile, check out these other 2011 Chanukah posts
Make your own Hanukkah Gingerbread House
Paper Hanukkah Menorah Centerpiece Decoration
To read additional MBE posts from past years use the search window and enter the word Hanukkah in the right hand column of this blog.
How will you be spending Hanukkah this year? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Tweet
FTC Disclosure: This blog did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog,including this one.
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