Monday, December 10, 2012

Happy Hanukkah!

I love that this time of the year is the holiday season for many of us. Saturday started the Festival of the Lights or Hanukkah, which will extend until the 16th of December.


For those who don't know much about it, this is a Jewish Holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and it is celebrated for 8 nights and days. After many years of foreign occupation and hardship, the Jews liberated and rededicated the Temple, which required cleasing and the building of a new altar.


The miracle of Hanukkah is that the oil for the Menorah that was supossed to burn for only one day, burned for 8 days, which are the amount of days they needed to make the oil. The menorah you see in all celebrations has a branch for each one of the 8 days and one that is higher.


Another great thing besides an 8 day celebration is the food prepared for this event. It includes latkes or potato panckaces and jam filled doughnuts. There is also the tradition of eating some dairy foods to commemorate women's role in the celebration. 


For those of you who are celebrating, I hope you are enjoying the holidays and that the rest of it is full of nice surprises.

Have a great week!
Categories

25 comments:

  1. Carole Poirot December 10, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    Thanks for the background information, I wasn't really familiar with it. Lovely images though I'm still trying to figure out what exactly is in those jars in the first image... Have a great week xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fashion-ishaDecember 10, 2012 at 11:49 PM

      Those are dreidels...little toys that you spin and you play with pennies. On each side is a symbol that tells you how much you get or have to put back etc..it's a Hanukkah game!
      xo
      Sharon

      Delete
  2. tinajoDecember 10, 2012 at 3:19 AM

    Oh yes, I have jewish friends who´re celebrating this, I love when they tell me about it - very interesting! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Dainty Dolls HouseDecember 10, 2012 at 4:31 AM

    Beautiful...I love the holiday and learning more about it!! Gorgeous images...I hope it's a wonderful time for all who celebrate :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. FASHION TALESDecember 10, 2012 at 1:15 PM

    Wonderful celebration for all! I know this holiday well, only because I grew up with close family friends from Israel. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jaime @ laviejaimeDecember 10, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating! I love the glittery dreidels.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tiffany KadaniDecember 10, 2012 at 2:00 PM

    Beautiful post! I love playing Hanukkah games with my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 10, 2012 at 3:32 PM

    Awww great post. I have always wanted to be Jewish..I know that may sound weird but it's true. haha! Happy Hanukkah!! xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. LeslieDecember 10, 2012 at 3:35 PM

    Happy Hanukkah!! Your images are lovely .. the blues and silver, and that cupcake.. Yum! We celebrate Hannukkah traditions with our friends. Beautiful traditions .. family centered :)

    xxleslie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rowena @ rolala lovesDecember 10, 2012 at 3:44 PM

    Happy Hanukkah! Such pretty colors. It's great to be able to learn more about different holidays and traditions.

    Rowena @ rolala loves

    ReplyDelete
  10. honey my heartDecember 10, 2012 at 5:55 PM

    this is such a beautiful holiday. Happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownDecember 10, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Happy Hanukkah! Love this time of the year. Hope you are enjoying life and having a great time Elie!

    xo Mary Jo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Eleanor at Mirror Of My WorldDecember 10, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    happy chanukah! i am celebrating here in london :) it really is a great holiday as we get to eat lots of doughnuts and exchange gifts. it has a beautiful message xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Eleanor at Mirror Of My WorldDecember 10, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    ps to mademoiselle poirot, the things in the jars in the first image are dreidels. dreidels are spinning tops that jewish children used to play with during times when the greeks were in power and are a part of the chanuka holiday. when greek soldiers would come by, the jewish children learning torah would play with their spinning tops to hide this, as it was punishable. jews nowadays play with dreidels to remind us of the chanuka miracle. hope that helps!! xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. jDecember 10, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    I had no idea about the dairy food symbolism.

    You should definitely visit the ICFF some time, it is a lot of fun seeing everything.

    ReplyDelete
  15. little luxury listDecember 10, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    What beautiful Hanukkah photos and happy holidays to our friends who celebrate this holiday!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

    ReplyDelete
  16. MOSAMUSEDecember 10, 2012 at 10:38 PM

    happy holidays!!
    xo
    MOSAMUSE

    www.MOSAMUSE.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousDecember 10, 2012 at 11:04 PM

    I didn't know anything about this celebration, very interesting.

    Elly @ Caribbean Living

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownDecember 10, 2012 at 11:32 PM

    great decor pictures! i'm not Jewish but I appreciate the holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Fashion-ishaDecember 10, 2012 at 11:47 PM

    This is such a beautiful post. Thanks for explaining it so clearly for all! Happy Hanukkah!
    xo
    Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  20. kDecember 11, 2012 at 6:35 AM

    thanks for sharing about Hanukkah - always good to be reminded of something i'm not familiar with. happy holidays!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jayme @ Her Late Night CravingsDecember 11, 2012 at 8:29 AM

    Happy Hanukkah to you! Love this post! Such gorgeous decor and we get to learn a little more!

    Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings

    ReplyDelete
  22. Natalia | Look-A-PorterDecember 11, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    Thank you for writing about this holiday - I didn't know much about it, so it was curious and interesting. x

    ReplyDelete
  23. MILEXDecember 11, 2012 at 10:46 AM

    I am saying yes.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mon Joli ParisDecember 12, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    cool cakes !!! <3

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)