In our house, we celebrate Chanukah. Through the years, many
things about our celebration have changed. When the kids were young, we of
course made a big deal about the holiday. We’d play music, serve latkes (potato
pancakes), play dreidel and on a few of the eight nights, give presents. As the
kids have gotten older, our traditions have changed.
The entire family gets together one night to exchange gifts
with the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We all bring our
menorahs—candelabras with room for nine candles—and we take big group photos of
everyone lighting the candles.
We get together with friends one night and our photos over
the years show how much the kids have grown (and how willing or unwilling they
are now to smile).
One of the eight nights is dedicated to giving back. Instead
of presents for ourselves, we donate to a charity. Some years we’ve made
blankets and quilts for our local animal shelter. Other years we’ve sent money
to a charity we all agree on—a small miracle in and of itself, since we rarely
all can agree on anything. Once when the kids were little, we went to the toy
store, bought toys and games for kids who didn’t have any, and brought them to
a local preschool.
My specialty for Chanukah is making fried Oreos. The holiday
celebrates the miracle of the oil lasting for eight nights, so our traditional
foods are those made with lots of oil, like donuts. Several years ago, my
husband and I went to a county fair and had fried Oreos. We loved them, and
since they are deep fried, they fit the holiday perfectly. I found a recipe
online to make them and ever since then, family and friends have demanded them
every year.
Now that one of my daughters is away at college, I mail her
gifts early, trying to figure out the exact right time so that everything
arrives on time and we can celebrate with her over FaceTime. Technology is
terrific for that, but I confess to missing having her home and celebrating in
person. Luckily for me, you younger daughter, who has this last year at home
before she leaves for college as well, still likes the traditions we have, even
playing with some of her baby Chanukah toys that I find and put out along with
the decorations.
So whatever you celebrate, and however you do so, I wish you
and your family happy and healthy times together!
Jennifer Wilck
https://www.jenniferwilck.com/
10 comments:
I grew up in East New York when there was still a large Jewish population and during Chanukah I learned the Dreidel song. There were electric menorahs in peoples' windows with orange bulbs that would be lit each night until all the bulbs were lit by the end of the holiday. Thanks for sharing, Jennifer. Your post brought back some nice memories.
Jennifer, What a lovely blog entry. I so enjoyed hearing about your celebrations through the years. And fried oreos! YOWZA! I would imagine your daughter pleads for those to be part of her care packages during the holidays.
Now I want your recipe for fried Oreos! Sounds decadent and delicious.
What a lovely tradition, Jennifer. Fried oreos? Yum. And I love potato pancakes. Thank you for sharing.
I love your blog. I’ll be blogging on December 9 about Hanukkah and I’ll feature my sister’s latke recipe and a picture of her delicious latkes. Hope you’ll stop by. The holiday really is different when your kids aren’t living at home. One of my daughters lives in Munich now but she will actually be home for Hanukkah this year.
Marilyn Baron
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories, Jennifer. I wish you and your family a Happy Chanukah, and yes, I will undoubtedly be dreaming about fried Oreos tonight. Sigh. Goodbye, diet!
What a beautiful picture of you and your family! Such memories are so precious. I think it's good for our traditions and celebrations to evolve as our families change. The belief stays the same, just like bedrock!
What a lovely post, Jennifer. And YUM to fried Oreos! Never had them before. Perhaps you could share your recipe? Wishing you and your family a Happy Chanukah!
Thanks, everyone! I love keeping and adapting the traditions as everyone gets older. And I'm happy to share the recipe--email me! They are not thinning, but they are good!
Fried oreos sounds good! I'd love the recipe too! Can you send it via FB messenger? Always looking for unique tastes!
Happy Chanukah and Merry Merry Jennifer!
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