This will be our first "Christmakuh" event being married this year. Hanukkah began at sundown on December 11, 2009 and will continue for 8 days.
Hanukkah 101:
The Hanukkah story is...In 168 B.C.E. the Jewish Temple was seized by Syrian-Greek soldiers. A Greek officer ordered Mattathias, a High Priest, to worship only to the Greek gods, but Mattathias refused. Mattathias and other Jews fought against the Greeks and took back Palestine from the Greeks. Jewish troops wanted to purify the Temple by burning ritual oil in the Temple’s menorah for eight days. They discovered that there was only one day's worth of oil left in the Temple. They lit the menorah anyway and to their surprise the small amount of oil lasted the full eight days. This is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil that is celebrated every year when Jews light a special menorah for eight days. One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, two on the second, and so on, until eight candles are lit. Because many Jews live in predominately Christian societies, over time Hanukkah has become much more festive and Christmas-like. Jewish children receive gifts for Hanukkah – often one gift for each of the eight nights of the holiday. Many parents hope that by making Hanukkah extra special their children won't feel left out of all the Christmas festivities going on around them. (http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm)
Jesse and I have been celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas in our lives since we have known each other. We both feel this is a special time in our lives and can't wait to extend this tradition of celebrating both with our future children. Celebrating both traditions comes the name "Christmakuh."
Happy Christmakuh to you and your families... Love The Ordans!!
