My Holiday By Violet

During the holiday season, my family celebrates Hanukkah. My part of the family isn’t religious like the other part of our family, neither my sister or I went to hebrew school or are having Bat Mitzvahs. On the eight days, we light each candle on the menoura  night by night and give presents to each other. Traditionally, every night we’re supposed to say a prayer; instead we just say it the first night because we only know one of the prayers. We sometimes spin dreidels and play the game (even though we barely know how). Hanukkah is celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple. We give each other chocolate coins called gelt, which now come in lots of flavors.

 

Plymouth Xmas 07Creative Commons License GabboT via Compfight

 

 

Holidays by Eden

I celebrate Hanukkah for the holidays. Then my family and I pick out a menorah out of our many lining our cabinets. Everyday for the 8 nights we light a candle. My family always lights the candles after dinner, usually before dessert. Another thing I enjoy a lot is for the 8 days we light candles we exchange small gifts. For example, some chocolate coins or a card. The last night we give the biggest present, it’s always different.  Usually at least for one night relatives and or friends come over for dinner, lighting the candles, and having fun! We play games like the dreidel game, and get chocolate coins from it! I usually win against my parents.  Those are most of the traditions my family and I have been doing, and will be doing for as long as we can!

Here is a link to a site on some Hanukkah traditions and basics:

Hanukkah Basics/Traditions 

 

Lights burning low feministjulie via Compfight

Holiday Fun By Olive

Holiday Post

As you all know probably know, it’s holiday time  this month, with the shopping and all the other stressful things. I am also happy that my whole family is getting together,  eating dinner and opening presents. I used to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, but my brother no longer lives with us, and he was the reason my mom was celebrating Hanukkah. I wish I was still celebrating Hanukkah, I loved playing dreidel, we would normally play for pennies or chocolate coins. Hope you and your family have fun celebrating the holidays!

Staccabees DreidelsCreative Commons License

Staccabees via Compfight

 Here is a site I found on how to play a dreidel.

How To Play A Dreidel

Happy Blogging,

Olive

   

 

Holiday Post – By Isaac

Every year my family celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas. For Christmas, all of my family comes to my house in the morning to exchange gifts, and there’s never been a time where it wasn’t fun! My uncle always makes us amazing pancakes, but that’s kind of annoying because we have to wait for him to get here (he lives a long way away). I make a Christmas list every year, but my brother doesn’t and gets really amazing stuff. I tried that once, and I got nothing I really liked. My family hasn’t gotten their Christmas tree yet, and I’m getting a little worried!

Hanukkah my family just does by ourselves. I love using the dreidel, but my family doesn’t do the thing where you win chocolate coins. We used to do the thing where you gave people gifts on each day of Hanukkah, but now we just light the menorah and eat latkes.

My parents don’t encourage staying up very late, but this year they are letting me stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. I have never seen the “ball dropping” in New York City, but I have always wanted to go. Maybe I will someday!

 

Glossary

Hanukkah – A Jewish holiday where people celebrate the oil that burned for eight days

Christmas – A Christian holiday where people write lists and “Santa” gives them presents under a tree

Dreidel – A four sided top that you spin and you win something

Menorah – A candle holder with 8 candle spots and a spot for the Shamash, which lights all the other candles

New Year’s Eve – The American new year falls on January first, and the day prior, people have all sorts of parties at midnight.

Ball Dropping – At midnight, a giant ball falls in a building in Times Square, New York City, signifying the switch to the new year.

Still don’t understand what Christmas is about? – Christmas Website

Still don’t understand what Hanukkah is about? – Hanukkah

Holiday Celebration – Anna

The Holidays are my favorite time of year. My family celebrates Christmas.  I just love the smell of cocoa and hearing the Christmas songs in the background as I do my holiday shopping. My dad is friends with a family, the Kanes. We always go to their house for a party on Christmas day. I get a little bored at the party because I am the only kid my age but I still enjoy seeing the people I have known for about seven years.

The food at that party is amazing. They always have salmon, steak and more. The desserts are my favorite. The guests can bring a dessert to the party. It’s so cool trying all of the ones that look good. I can’t wait to see all of the people, eat food and have fun with my friends and family.

I also celebrate Hanukkah. My Mom, Dad and I always light the menorah and give each other gifts. I like celebrating two different holidays because I get to spend more time with my close friends and family. I know the holidays are not about the presents but I really like getting gifts and I think everybody does. I also feel really good when I give gifts to my friends, family and sometimes people who do not have as much. That’s what the holidays are about – family and giving.

Christmastreeeeeee.jpg

                                                                                       By Yatharth from Wikipedia