@The Angry Goat What about Hanuka? (sorry, unfamiliar with the spelling, so if that's wrong... ^_^;)

@The Angry Goat@CollectorofMyst Chanukkah's over now. It's also really low-key, or at least it's supposed to be. I ended up with more parties than I expected, but it's because I'm in more groups than I used to be. @.@ And I got to sing the dreidle song at the one for my synagogue. That and latkes with my pagan friend are my priorities, after candles. ^.^

Hey. Hey Goat. Pssst. Give me something to make a dreidle out of!

And Myst, unless you use Hebrew letters there is no proper spelling. There's at least four standard ones -- and honestly, so long as you kinda come close, people understand. Sorta like with that one guy's name. You know, Bandcamp Callback?

@shylarah Oh, okay. I'll admit, practically all I know about Chanukkah came from the kids' cartoon Arthur. Francine and her family are Jewish in that show, and there was candle lighting and they sang as it happened. If that's accurate or even correct; it is still a kid's show.

@CollectorOfMyst it is correct! The singing during lighting candles is the blessings. There's also a lot of other songs associated with and about the holiday. ^.^

@Lovejoy I'm going home that27th on leave until the14th, but I'm SUPPOSED to have more time on vacation, right?

@shylarah Oh, also, in the town centre, where all the shops and such, they put up a sort of multi-stalked lamppost that resembles the candle-holder you use (which I imagine has a formal name that I don't know), though I've never seen them turn it on. It's actually in a better position to be seen than any Christmas trees they could've put up, and there's a sign explaining that it's to honour and acknowledge the traditions. Don't quite understand how that works.

Would you mind if I asked what happens with Chanukkah? What it observes, the proceedings, the traditions, and such? While I know very little about it, I'd like to learn.

hanukah
hanukkah
chanukah
chanukkah
chaunnewckauh (or is it)

i too am a jew

(c)han(n)uk(k)a(h)

There you go.

But the correct spelling is:
חנוכה

@CollectorOfMyst Sure, and I imagine the others can help explain.

Long time ago the Jews had a kingdom in Israel. The Greeks under Antiocus IV sacked the Temple there when the Jews refused to stop their own religious practices and act reverent towards a statue of Zeus that he put up. Eventually the Jews that fled banded together and came back, and though they were a smaller force they managed to kick the Greeks out again.

When they went to re-sanctify the Temple, and rekindle the light that is always kept burning there, they could only find enough consecrated oil to last for a single day, and getting more would take eight days. But the oil lasted for eight days, and that was the miracle of Chanukkah.

The lamp or candelabra you're talking about has nine branches. Usually it's called a menorah, but this is actually a generic term for a lamp of such a sort. Most of the ones seen in Jewish symbolism have seven branches -- six and then the one that is used to light the rest (called the shamesh). THe one used for Chanukkah is instead nine-branched, one candle for each of the eight days and then the shamesh.

The game with the four-sided top is called dreidle (or dreydel, or...you get the idea). Gelt is often mentioned. This used to be actual money, but now it's usually chocolate coins.

Fried foods are traditional, because you fry stuff in oil. Originally this was sufganyot, or jelly donuts, but nowadays latkes (potato pancakes) seem to be better recognized. Gifts are often exchanged, though the tradition varies by family. In America it's made into a bit of a production, I think primarily because Christmas is such a production. In Israel, I understand that candles are lit, there's maybe some singing, maybe a bit of dreidle, maybe a small gift or two, but it's really just a normal day.

There's a lot of stuff online if you want more information. ^.^ My mom would come into my grade school to do a presentation each year, which was pretty great. And I adore, ADORE latkes. I do not get them enough.

Oh, okay, shy. Thanks for explaining.

...I like that. It sounds kinda nice, as well. If I need more info, I'll be sure to check the interwebs, but my curiosity has been sated for now.

Huh... Meanwhile, I've known Why for years and did not know she was Jewish xD nice.

@Scout You mean me? I feel like it's come up...but then, I'm also the one with people I've known for five years that I still don't know by name. ^.^;;

@shylarah Eli here. Nice to meet you! *shakes hand very professionally*

Y'all are cringing me out ;) Scout is fine, Ken is acceptable. Happy holidays.

@Scout Ken huh? Was honestly expecting something like a Robert or Mitchell lol

I am Xerxes the Great of Persia, nice to meet you

I'm Chthulu.

Ia, ia, cthulhu f'tagn!

@Lovejoy I have a buddy and separately a cousin, Robert, and my favorite author's last name is Mitchell. O.o why did you think one of those?

m'name jeff