Aislin Freedman, Senior
As Christmas draws near, many people start to put up lights and buy presents for the holidays. When this is being written, it’s 26 days until Christmas. There are eight days until Chanukah. Eight days until the first candle on the menorah. 16 days until it’s all over, and everyone else still looks forward to Christmas. Chanukah is early this year. It might not be in November, but it’s close enough that anyone buying presents is prone to think it’s practically before Thanksgiving. What most people don’t know about the Jewish holidays is that they might fall at different times of the year on the calendar that is used here in America (and most other parts of the world), but they actually fall at the same time each year according to the Hebrew Calendar. Chanukah is on the 25th of a month called Kislev. I think of Kislev as a “Jewish December” because of how Chanukah interacts with it.
Christmas is a time of cheer, with pine trees and presents and stockings on the fireplace. Families gather around to watch “The Grinch” or listen to “Jingle Bells.” But Chanukah has just as many fun traditions, which you may or may not have heard of. What I’m looking forward to the most is this delicious fried treat called a Latke, which is sort of like a fried potato pancake. They are often enjoyed for Chanukah because of the oil that they are fried in. The miracle of Chanukah is about a small amount of oil, just enough to keep a light for one night, and lasting for all eight nights. Because of this, many people eat foods fried in oil to remember why the holiday is celebrated. No matter whether you believe in the miracle of Chanukah, or just want to try a new food, Latkes, especially when eaten with applesauce, are one of the best foods ever. They are one of the foods and scents I most associate with the holiday season.
Another tradition that I think is very important to mention, to paint a picture of the holiday spirit as seen from a Jewish lens, is that of playing a game of dreidels. The game consists of spinning a top with four sides and taking a bit of the center pot of prizes, depending on which side you land on. Most people play with gelt, which is chocolate wrapped in tinfoil to look like gold coins, but you can play with any sort of prize. Dreidels is a game for siblings, for families, and for friends. It’s fun no matter your age. Many people end up with a collection of dreidels. Playing reminds me of the snow, lights, and happy feelings of the holiday. It’s hard to understand traditions that aren’t your own. I have been asked if I’m sad that I don’t get to celebrate Christmas. That I miss out on the traditions of others. I don’t ever feel sad that I don’t get to celebrate Christmas, at least not how most people do, because I get to celebrate a different holiday, one that I love just as much as my Christian friends love Christmas. It is important to realize that even though people have different experiences, they can still have the same feelings and be just as sentimental about those feelings as you, no matter how different those memories and traditions are.