The Holiday Season (Part V)

Hanukkah Times are Rockin' Times

Hanukkah began last night. The Festival of Lights. The one where there are eight nights. The holiday that serves really good food. The one that Adam Sandler sings a song about. That thing they talk about in "Hershall and the Hanukkah Goblins", one of my personal favorites. You know, HANUKKAH!

But what is Hanukkah, anyway? Why is it spelled so many ways? Why do people get all bent out of shape because they have to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" this time of year? Well here I am everyone, an unofficial guide to the wonderful world of the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, Hanukah, and Hanuka, is a celebration of a very old Jewish holiday. It falls sometime between late November to late December (the holiday SEASON, people!) according to the lunar calendar and lasts eight nights. Each night a candle is lit on a menorah (Hanukiyah in Israel), a prayer is spoken, and presents are passed around. Good times. The holiday celebrates the Jewish victory over the Syrians about 2100 years ago, give or take. Because of this victory, the Jewish Temple was recaptured...(watch out, this is when the miracle happens!)

But no! The Syrians, in all their evil pagan ways, had really left the temple pretty beat. And they had only left enough stored oil so the Jews could burn their holy lights for one day. It would take eight days to acquire more. Well, they lit that puppy up anyway, and wouldn't you know it? The lights were glowing the whole eight days. MIRACLE! I love miracle holidays, they're wonderful.

And you know what comes with miracle holidays wonder women? FOOD. Yes, glorious, wonderful, amazing food. I believe that all the great holidays have it, and all the lesser ones lack it. Hanukkah could very well be the king of the food holidays. It's got the goods. Because of the special part oil has in the Hanukkah miracle, oil is used in making a lot of the goodies. Latkes, a fried potato pancake, is one of the most famous. Fried up and served with sour cream, butter, and/or apple sauce (my favorite) it could warm the coldest night. Sufganiyot, also served, is a fried jelly donut that is often not shaped so can come out looking pretty funny but pretty darn delicious. It's a donut, I mean, how could it not?

The Festival of Lights. Miracles, menorahs and delicious. Sounds like everyone's kind of holiday.

Deliciously yours, WW