Hannukkah in the Parks?

[alyssa810]

I know it's still several month away, but does anyone know if there Hannukkah related events in the parks, like menorah lighting? We are likely going to be there at some point over the holiday, and it wold be nice to see the WDW touch, if there is one.

Thanks!!

 

[geffric]

not that I have seen.. but I was only there once during December and did not see any Hannukkah related events.

 

[SamanthaL]

Never noticed any Jewish "touches" except the occasional Menorah. I would like to see it too since some of us Disney addicts are Jewish!

 

[BriarRosie]

The only references to Hanukkah I saw were inside the American Adventure pavillion. There were displays set up for both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, and apparently there was supposed to be some Holiday Storyteller for those.

I hadn't seen anyone show up to talk about those holidays, but I did see various Santas / Holiday Storytellers all around World Showcase.

It would be nice if they had a menorah lighting ceremony, since they do have tree lighting ceremonies!

 

[QuickGold]

It's slim pickings for the Jews in the parks. I've never seen anything.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'll be finding out this year. I'll hopefully be down with my 4yo December 5-11, and will be there for the first several days of Hannukah. I will be meeting my sister and my 81yo mother for my mother's first trip (they are not Jewish and I'm sure will enjoy the Christmas decorations). I hadn't looked at the calendar to realize that it was Hannukah until after making the plans, but I will be home the second part of it to eat my fill of latkes.

T&B

 

[angey77]

Disney does sell Hannukkah decorations in their holiday stores, most of them are blue and silver (I'm not sure if this is representative of something. Can you enlighten me?). There is also a small selection of Hannukkah songs sung during the Candelight Processional, if I remember correctly (don't quote me on that).

 

[SamanthaL]

Originally posted by angey77
Disney does sell Hannukkah decorations in their holiday stores, most of them are blue and silver (I'm not sure if this is representative of something. Can you enlighten me?). There is also a small selection of Hannukkah songs sung during the Candelight Processional, if I remember correctly (don't quote me on that).

Blue and silver are just the colors associated with the holiday. The same way that green and red are used for Christmas.
I wish a bit more was done to celebrate the different holidays. There really is no reason why they can't. Each celebration is just as important as the next.

 

[Kuzco]

I wonder if one of the reasons why Christmas seems to be the sole holiday celebrated in the parks is that Christmas is so much more easily celebrated as secular and not religious?

But I agree, it would be nice to see more of a diverse approach, although I do love WDW decked out for Christmas.

 

[angey77]

Originally posted by SamanthaL
Blue and silver are just the colors associated with the holiday. The same way that green and red are used for Christmas.
I wish a bit more was done to celebrate the different holidays. There really is no reason why they can't. Each celebration is just as important as the next.

Thank you for the info. I thought that was the case, but I didn't want to be ignorant to anything.
I attended the Candlelight Processional last year and heard the person in front of me mention they wish there was more Hannukkah in the parks. I guess being in the majority, I never really realized it, but now I agree.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I think it is probably that it is easier to celebrate the secular Christmas. I mean, I know a lot of people who are various religions, or atheists who celebrate a secular Christmas because it's an American tradition.

I also wonder if they are worried about not getting TOO into the religion and having it seem , I don't know, like they are treating it as trivial if they try to keep it light? I mean with Christmas you have Santa, Rudolph, elves, pine trees, snowmen etc. etc. which have nothing to do with the actual religion of Christianity. From what I have seen, the only deeply religious Christmas thing around MVMCP is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, where things are a little more serious anyway.

I don't know if these are any secular symbols of Hannukkah (sorry, I'm just not that familiar with Hannukkah, aside from some of the songs) but I would think having Menorahs, driedels, etc. would be a wonderful addition to the celebration. I LOVE Hannukkah songs. When I was in school in the 80's we sang Hannukkah songs in Dec. and they were so nice.

I'd also like to see them celebrate other winter time holidays as well, including Winter itself.

But I am one who likes learning about different cultures. So I personally would like to see more done with other holidays for other religions. They could easily do something more.

Maybe we should all write letters? I know it sounds crazy, but maybe no one has ever really asked them about it?

 

[dotterson]

There is a Hanukkah display in Downtown Disney. At the American Pavillion, there is a gentleman who told the story of the holiday and gave my daughter a dreidel. I don't remember if they lit candles, but we were there in the afternoon. The man also led songs. This is posted in the Epcot events.

So yes, they DO do something...


d










<Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'April 2, 2005 7:00:00 PM EST';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln('<font size=2 color=darkblue>Trip to DW!!! </font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writeln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) | (hours < 0) | (minutes < 0) | (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'We\\\'re here!';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script>

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
[B

I don't know if these are any secular symbols of Hannukkah (sorry, I'm just not that familiar with Hannukkah, aside from some of the songs) but I would think having Menorahs, driedels, etc. would be a wonderful addition to the celebration. I LOVE Hannukkah songs. [/B]

I think part of the problem is for some reason Disney doesn't feel compelled to check with anyone jewish (or picks the most nieve jews). For t two years the beanie baby's dreidel has had one of the hebrew letters written backwords. I called each time and they thought I was a luniteic.

Disney - feel free to hire me...I would be happy to have an extra visit

 

[disneyholic family]

well i see you got lots of serious responses, but when i saw your post all i could think was, "you must be joking"...

besides which, i for one, would totally cringe at anything hanukah related at WDW........really really really really cringe....

 

[SamanthaL]

Originally posted by disneyholic family
well i see you got lots of serious responses, but when i saw your post all i could think was, "you must be joking"...

besides which, i for one, would totally cringe at anything hanukah related at WDW........really really really really cringe....

I would hate to think that your comment was meant to be antisemetic but it does appear that way. You may want to clarify it a bit.
Since Christianity began with the Jewish religion it seems like learning about it would be very basic.

 

[ValDisney]

I would also like know how you meant that comment.

 

[SamanthaL]

Esmeraldax- none of those secular symbols apply to Hannukah. Basically the symbol is the menorah and it has everything to do with the holiday. I think telling the story and having a nightly lighting for the 8 nights would be fine and very welcomed by most guests. I would gladly write a letter right along with you.

dotterson- I am glad to hear that there was reference to it. I am also glad you let your daughter stay to learn about it and didn't run away screaming. It is a beautiful story and a beautiful religion.:

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by disneyholic family
well i see you got lots of serious responses, but when i saw your post all i could think was, "you must be joking"...

besides which, i for one, would totally cringe at anything hanukah related at WDW........really really really really cringe....

What makes me wonder is how anyone like you would even bother reading this thread. If I'm reading you correctly, then go back where you came from--under a rock. If you didn't mean what I think, then perhaps you should reread what you read and see how you sound.

T&B

 

[janner]

Beth,
I was surprised at the intensity conveyed in your post. Are you not willing to share WDW with people of other faiths? Much of the theming at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom involves exposure to cultures and beliefs that are not dominant in the U.S. Hanukah falls under the same category, to my way of thinking.
Maybe I'm naive in reacting to your post with a sense of shock. I hope you'll post again to shed some light on the strength of your anti-Hanukah feelings.
Janet

 

[WDWAurora]

There were dradels (sp?) under one of the trees, seems like one tree was decorated with a Jewish theme (yes I know that seems crazy to mix the holidays but I saw it) and if I have a picture I'll post again, I took lots of the trees in January, but I'm not sure if I got a picture of that one before it came down, as they started coming down while I was there.