slo’s WEDNESDAY 12/17 poll - Hanukkah 🕎

[tvguy]

I have posted in the past that my Father's family history seems to have been lost to time for a whole lot of reasons. I grew up in the Presbyterian church, with the only deviation being going to a Seventh Day Adventist High School for one year.
So a couple of years ago when I got an Ancestry DNA test for Christmas, the surprise is I am 24% Jewish, my largest genetic group. So apparently my paternal Grandfather was Jewish. No record of this, and was not practicing that we know of. My dad and aunt were 10 and 12 when their parents died and religion of any sort was not a part of their upbringing to that point, and they either were never told, or were too young to remember any family history.
So apparently it has been well over 100 years since anyone in my family observed the Jewish faith.

 

[georgina]

I'm shocked that so many don't have a friend that's Jewish! Maybe it's a regional thing(I'm in the northeast) -when I was in school, we had so many Jewish students that we actually got some of their holidays off as well. I will say this -my Jewish friends are some of the strongest, well-grounded, and kind people I know..... So you're really missing out!

I grew up in a very Irish Catholic neighborhood, went to catholic schools, etc. Didn't meet a Jewish person until college. I know a few Jewish people in my local neighborhood now, but not closely and I have no idea if they celebrate, I certainly don't see any outside house decorations around where I am.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I live in the suburbs of NYC, and was raised Catholic, but have many Jewish friends and neighbors, including the family next door. My town holds a public menorah lighting as well as Christmas tree lighting ceremony for the season.

For what it's worth, I've always been told that Hanukkah is not really a big holiday but has been blown up due to its timing around Christmas festivities and the commercial potential.

I believe this is true, but don’t see anything wrong with it. Love your Hanukkah decorations, and I love latkes!

I also usually put up a large outside light display. Considering the fact that Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, I feel that exterior lights can be just as much in celebration of Hanukkah as it can be for Christmas. DH grew up Christian as well, so like my father, it gives him a bit of both.

I know several families who celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. I think it’s great to include traditions of both.

 

[Kitty 34]

My first semester at Concordia University in River Forest I was a nanny for a Jewish family. I learned a lot from them about their holidays.

Happy Hanukkah to our DISers celebrating.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I live in the suburbs of NYC, and was raised Catholic, but have many Jewish friends and neighbors, including the family next door. My town holds a public menorah lighting as well as Christmas tree lighting ceremony for the season.


I believe this is true, but don’t see anything wrong with it. Love your Hanukkah decorations, and I love latkes!


I know several families who celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. I think it’s great to include traditions of both.

Normally, it just feels like the best of both worlds being able to have bits of both. My Jewish grandparents were pretty strict about certain things when I was growing up but I blend a lot more in adulthood.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I certainly don't see any outside house decorations around where I am.

That seems to be a more modern trend. My grandparents would certainly not approve of any of my decor. As it was, they had some issue with the single strand of lights my parents used to hang in our front window over our menorah.