This past week young Stuart caught my attention as he was leaving for Sunday School: "boy, you sure have a lot of candles!" he offered. True. We lighted four Advent Candles along with our weekly Christ candle.
I'm big on candles and on Christmas Eve we will fire up the two candelabra and the Christ candle and hand out a candle to everyone who comes to our second service as well. There is something warm and alive about an open flame. At this time of the year so close to the winter solstice we need all the reminders of Christ's light with us we can muster.
And even though we are not Jewish and Hanukkah is a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, bring on the menorah. We have one in our house to acknowledge the miracle of the tiny amount of oil which somehow lasted for eight days when the temple of Jerusalem was recaptured and the menorah rekindled. As with most of them today our menorah has candles rather than oil but the meaning is the same.
As you can see above, some folk get really creative with their menorahs, and who can forget Adam Sandler's infamous Hanukkah Song.
Happy Hanukkah to all of you and prepare for the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Happy Hanukkah to all of you and prepare for the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Will any of you give a nod to Hanukkah this season? Any other holy pyromaniacs out there?
2 comments:
Channukah is a wonderful time of year for Jewish families. The celebration of the Festival of Lights is a minor holiday, but given that in North America, this time of year is so full of celebration, religious and retail alike, it has become a larger event. The giving of gifts was never a tradtional expression of the holiday, but it has become so in modern times.
The miracle of the oil for the Everlasting light lasting for 8 days, during a time of hardship for the Jewish people, is one that is celebrated in Synagogues across the world. It's a time of deep prayer, and giving thanks to God for his many miracles, including this one.
I'd like to wish all my Jewish friends and family, a very Happy Channukah... And my new Christian family, a Merry Christmas... May the teachings of the Prince of Peace, encompass everything you do.
Last night we attended a Channukah festival in our neighbourhood. The gracious hosts served yummy hot latkes, topped with a touch of applesauce or sour cream....Most guests were Christian (incl blogger/traveller Nancy.) There was a warm spirit of celebration - Happy Channukah and Merry Christmas!
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