The Festival of Lights Begins

Despite the recent ruthless jabs from Mother Nature, three popular holidays take place during the month of December. Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa all have stories of how they have come about, but it is up to the people who celebrate them to truly provide depth and creativity to each of these holidays. Over the pages of three blogs I hope to share with you the stories of each of these ancient holidays and the traditions people practice to make them unique.

Hanukkah, which is also known as the Festival of Lights or its Roman name Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday celebrated over a span of eight days. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple at the time of the Maccabean Revolt. Lucy Ainsman, 20, and a Hanukkah celebrator, explains the story behind the creation of this holiday, and the tradition of lighting the Menorah. A Menorah consists of 9 branches, one for each night and a raised middle branch for the purpose of lighting each of the other candles.



This year Hanukkah began at sundown on Wednesday, December 1. Ainsman and Rachael Green, 22, celebrated the holiday by cooking traditional Jewish dishes and reciting Jewish prayers. Ainsman and Green prepared latkes or potato pancakes, matzo ball soup, challah a traditional braided bread, and shuk shuka a traditional Israeli dish consisting of tomatoes, garlic and eggs.



Ainsman carries on traditions of many Jewish families like braiding the challah.




On the first night of this holiday three blessings are recited in Hebrew before the lighting of the candles on the Menorah. On all other nights only the first two are recited. Ainsman and Green recite some of the blessings prior to the candle lighting and their meal.



Although being an hour away from home, Ainsman still smiles while reflecting on the traditions of her family from her past. She explains the tradition of the dreidel bags distributed to family during their Hannukah party.



Typically Hanukkah takes place before students who are away at college are dismissed for winter break. Students such as Ainsman and Green make compromises and reflect the Hanukkah traditions of their parents and grandparents even when away from their families. After having the opportunity to enjoy the traditional Jewish dishes Ainsman and Green prepared I have to admit it was hard not to be in the spirit of Hanukkah.