The holiday season will come early this year for Jewish students.
Hannukah, Judaism’s eight days wintertime holiday, usually falls closer to winter break and Christmas. However, due to the setup of the Jewish calendar, this year’s celebration begins on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Hannukah is celebrated after sundown with the lighting of menorah candles. Presents are typically exchanged on each night as well.
Sophomore Rebecca Ferman, whose family celebrates Hannukah, anticipates that the early arrival of the holiday will create scheduling conflicts.
“I have Winter Guard practice on the first night of Hannukah, and so we’ll just have to try and fit in celebrating it later at night when I get home,” Ferman said.
Junior Linsey Button, however, doesn’t foresee any issues.
“I don’t think it’ll be a big deal. It usually takes about 15 minutes to light candles and open presents for the night. Depending on what the present is, it can keep you occupied for a while,” Button said.
Button’s, whose father is not Jewish, celebrates Christmas as well as Hannukah.
“As my friends say, we celebrate ‘Santa Claus’. We don’t celebrate the meaning of Christmas, but we do get present from Santa. Every other year we go to Cleveland to celebrate Christmas with my family there. The other years we’re here with my mom’s family who is Jewish, so we just open ‘Santa Presents’,” she explained.
Despite Hannukah being one of the more minor observances in Judaism, both girls say that their families have created special memories centered around the holiday.
“Every Hannukah all of my extended family-aunts, uncles and cousins-will go to someone’s house and have a huge party and eat latkes [a traditional Hannukah food] with applesauce,” Ferman said.
“My grandparents put together bags for all of their grandchildren with a quarter for each night of Hanukkah. For example, one on the first night, two on the second, three on the third and by the eighth night, you get eight quarters plus all the ones you got before,” Button said.
“My favorite memory is probably making potato latkes with my cousin. I accidentally dropped some on her feet, and she ‘accidentally’ dropped some on my head. We had latka fight in the kitchen, while our moms weren’t there. We were covered in potatoes and spices, but we smelled good,” she continued.
Ferman attributes Hannukah’s appeal to the time of year.
“This holiday may be fairly minor but it’s still a time for family,” she said. “There’s something about wintertime that just brings people together.”
