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Festival of Chanukah
Dec 30
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"🎶 O Chanukah, O Chanukah,
come light the menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the horah
Gather ‘round the table, we’ll give you a treat
Sivivon to play with and latkes to eat
And while we are playing, the candles are burning low
One for each night, they shed a sweet light, to remind us of days long ago."
~ Traditional
Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days and nights! Its timing is based on the Hebrew lunar calendar, which causes its dates to shift annually on the Gregorian calendar. While both Chanukah and Christmas often occur in December, this year, the two coincided! The overlap of the first night of Hanukkah and Christmas Day has coincided only five times since 1900: in 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and 2024. The next occurrence is projected for 2035! Happy Dancing Chanukah with a new 32 reel, devised by Sue McKinnell for Jewish dancing friends. This namesake reel for 3 couples contains (as appropriate for a chilly December), a Snowball Chain! 💙 🤍 💙 🕎 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️
Festival of Lights
Happy Chanukah!
Typical Chanukah celebrations might include:
Latkes (Potato Pancakes): Fried and crispy, latkes are made from grated potatoes, onions, eggs, and flour. They are typically served with sour cream, applesauce, or both, symbolizing the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days.
Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts): These round, fried doughnuts are filled with jelly or custard and dusted with powdered sugar. Like latkes, they commemorate the oil miracle.
Brisket: A tender and savory slow-cooked beef dish, often served alongside latkes or other sides.
Kugel: A baked casserole dish made with egg noodles or potatoes, often sweetened with raisins and cinnamon or served savory.
Chocolate Gelt: Foil-wrapped chocolate coins given to children as treats or used during dreidel games.
Challah Bread: Braided bread, sometimes shaped into unique forms for the holiday, served as part of the meal.
Vegetable or Cheese Dishes: To honor the story of Judith from the Chanukah narrative, dishes with dairy, such as cheese blintzes or baked pasta, are sometimes included.
Typical Games at a Chanukah Celebration might include:
Dreidel Game: A spinning top game played with a four-sided dreidel marked with Hebrew letters (Nun, Gimel, Hei, and Shin). Players take turns spinning and follow rules based on the letter landed on, using small tokens like chocolate gelt, nuts, or coins as stakes.
Chanukah Bingo: A festive twist on the classic game, featuring symbols like menorahs, dreidels, and candles.
Storytelling Games: Family members share retellings of the Chanukah story or ask trivia questions about the holiday's history and traditions.
Chanukah Karaoke or Sing-Alongs: A time for families to sing traditional songs like "Maoz Tzur" (Rock of Ages) or "I Have a Little Dreidel."
These foods and games create a warm and joyous atmosphere, celebrating the holiday's themes of light, resilience, and community. For more on the history of Chanukah, click the menorah!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
