Looking at the traditions of Christmas and Chanukah it seems that these celebrations have common traits.
For Christmas hanging lights around town and in the home is an important part of the celebration. On Chanukah, lighting of the Menorah for each day of the celebration is what gives this holiday the name “holiday of lights”.
Caroling is a wonderful Christmas tradition and has been part of the holiday for a great many years. During Chanukah, Hallel “Jewish Praise” is chanted each morning from a selection of Psalms.
Giving of presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas day is a tradition for most people. The giving of small gifts or money to children and some adults too is a popular way of celebrating through Chanukah.
Traditional Christmas dinners are turkey, goose, duck or ham with stewed fruit, pudding or rich cake for dessert. Many people enjoy a late night dinner consisting of fried fish fillets or shell fish.
Eating of fried foods (potato pancakes are very popular), to celebrate the “miracle of the oil” is a common Chanukah tradition.
Red and green and gold and white are symbolic colors for these holidays. When these colors are displayed it is clear that ‘tis the season.
Wonderful Christmas and Chanukah cards are a long time tradition. Many people have begun to create their own cards with software programs that are perfect for that kind of thing, and fun too.
Of course in the past years many people complained that the holidays were becoming too commercial and that the meaning of it all was being squashed. Recently some folks have made a concerted effort to keep the spirit in mind and the materialism secondary. I myself am enjoying the change.
Celebrating and rejoicing are a precious right that we are so blessed to have. May your season be a wonderful one.
Written by Delightful Biteful