And on the eighth day, it was over.

Chanukah oh Chanukah
...come light the menorah...
Let's have a party...
...we'll all dance the hora...
Gather round the table, we'll give you a treat...
Sevivon to play with, and latkes to eat!

It's about tradition. Making new traditions, keeping old traditions.

Growing up, we celebrated Chanukah.  But really, it was never much of a big deal.  There were a few years where I remember my parents getting and wrapping 8 presents, but there never was the spirit.  Light the menorah, have a party, eat latkes, spend time with friends and family.  When nobody in our family seemed interested in planning a party, I hosted one here.  And it almost didn't happen, since life seems to get in the way.  But, in the end, it was a nice dinner with my parents, my husbands mother & sister, and us.  Small and intimate.

Chanukah gets a bad wrap in our society.  It's the one Jewish holiday that most everyone knows about, and I've even heard it called the Jewish Christmas.  But it's not the Jewish Christmas.  It has nothing to do with Christmas, except, of course, for it's close proximity.

We did an okay job this year.  My sons got presents, and when we forgot to light the candles last night, my oldest boy reminded me. Tonight when we did the blessing for the last time, he even managed to sing along for half a verse.  We coloured menorahs and played with dreidels.  We had friends over to visit, we ate latkes and we read books.

And I think we got through to my older son that the candles aren't birthday candles, and we don't blow them out.

It's a start.  Building our own traditions is difficult, and, at times, very isolating.  But we carry on.

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Comments

[Mac and Cheese]

I'll take that Chanukah pep talk you offered whenever you're ready.

[kittenpie]

Building your own traditions is tricky business, but so is blending some from each side. I think it's worth the effort and the fiddling with them and the compromises and discussion behind the scenes, because it makes for a certain magic that kids remember, no matter what you celebrate. It's the little rituals, the things you do together, over and over, that stick. I think it's a lovely thing.

[lisa b]

I think dissuading a child from blowing out the candles would be VERY hard!