Christmas Trivia - Hanukkah

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA: Hanukkah

This year Hanukkah began on November 27th and continues until December 5th

Commencing on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Syrians. In 168 BC, members of the Jewish family Maccabee led a revolt against the Greek Syrians due to the policies of Syrian King Antiochus IV which were aimed at nullifying the Jewish faith. Part of this strategem included changing the Beit HaMikdash - the Holy Temple in Jerusalem - to a Greek temple complete with idolatry. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews won victory over the Syrians in 165 BC and reclaimed their temple.After cleansing the temple and preparing for its rededication, it was found there was not enough oil to light the N'er Tamid, an oil lamp present in Jewish houses of worship which represents eternal light. Once lit, the lamp should never be extinguished.

A search of the temple produced a small vial of undefiled oil -- enough for only one day. Miraculously, the Temple lights burned for eight days until a new supply of oil was brought. In remembrance of this miracle, one candle of the Menorah - an eight branched candelabra - is lit each of the eight days of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, which means dedication, is a Hebrew word when translated is commonly spelled Hanukah, Chanukah, and Hannukah due to different translations and customs.The tradition of receiving gifts on each of the eight days of Hanukkah is relatively new and due in part to the celebration's proximity to the Christmas season.

Trivia continues tomorrow -

Angela

Christmas Trivia Day 2: Advent

I posted about advent calendars - I hope you got yours ready .. but exactly what is Advent?

The word Advent is from the Latin word Adventus which means "coming".

Advent with a capital A usually refers to the "coming of Christ into the world" or to the liturgical period preceding Christmas.

In the 8th century Advent was observed not as a liturgical celebration but as a time of fast and abstinence.

In the 9th Century the Catholic Church designated the first Sudnay of Advent the beginning of the Church year.

On each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day in Roman Catholic Churches and many other Christian Churches - an Advent candle is lit as part of the weekly mass.

Watch out fore Christmas Trivia every day until Christmas Eve.

Angela

Hello - My name is Angela and I am addicted to Bon Bons.....

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA:    Crackers / Bon Bons

The story of the Christmas cracker is really a testament to one man's ingenuity and determination. Tom Smith was a confectioner's apprentice in London in the early 19th century. On a trip to Paris in 1840, he admired the French sugared almond bon-bons, wrapped in coloured tissue paper, and decided to introduce them in London. These bon-bons were popular, but not quite as Smith had hoped.

For seven years he worked to develop the bon-bon into something more exciting, but it was not until he sat one evening in front of his fireplace that his great idea came to him. Watching the logs crackle, he imagined a bon-bon with a pop. He made a coloured paper wrapper and put in it another strip of paper impregnated with chemicals which, when rubbed, created enough friction to produce a noise. He knew that bangs excited children (and were said to frighten evil spirits) - and the mottoes and poems he inserted inside the crackers amused adults.

The new product was initially marketed as the Cosaque, but “cracker" soon became the commonly used name, as rival varieties were introduced to the market. The other elements of the modern cracker, the gifts, paper hats and varied designs, were all introduced by Tom Smith's son, Walter Smith, as ways of distinguishing the company from the many copycat cracker manufacturers which had suddenly sprung up.

CHRISTMAS FUN:

One of the nicest stories told by the staff of Tom Smith is that of the gentleman who sent a diamond ring and a ten-shilling note, with a letter requesting that a special cracker be made with the ring inside, as a proposal to his ladylove. Sadly, the gentleman did not remember to include his address! Maybe the engagement never happened, because he did not get back in touch with Smiths, and the ring, together with the money and the letter are still kept by Smiths in their archives.

Christmas for me always begins with buying the Bon Bons for the Christmas table - the tree can be up the presents can be bought but it just isn't Christmas until I have those Bon Bons.

The bon bons for me "set the scene" - this is when the present wrapping, table setting colour scheme is decided and announced to the family ( and yes they do think I am nuts - but as he song says "A little bit crazy is alright").

I have been known to buy Bon Bons and then see some I like better and buy them and change the theme for the year....resulting in a storeroom that may or may not hold a stash of Bon Bons from "Christmas past".

I looked this year - well I opened the door of the storeroom and none jumped out at me so I bought these.....

And because they aren't quite the Lime and White/Silver I have in mind I am adding this to them with name tags.  

More Christmas Trivia tomorrow

Angela

Lets get prepared - Your Advent Calendar

Panicked about Christmas - make this cool Advent Calendar....

1. Put up the Christmas Tree
2. Visit Santa
3. Go gift shopping
4. Make wrapping paper
5. Draw Christmas pictures
6. Watch a Christmas movie (the old ones I watched when I was little, You know the animated ones with Rudolph saving the day)
7. Listen to Christmas stories and then draw a picture of the story
8. Donate a gift to the wishing tree
9. write Christmas cards
10. Email Santa
11. Play Christmas games on the computer (see links below)
12. carols by candlelight
13. Christmas concert
14. listen to carols
15. make a Christmas decoration
16. make the Christmas cake
17. make Christmas cookies
18. Christmas window art
19. Make grandparent presents
20. make a hand and feet reindeer
21. make Christmas gift tags
22. wrap Christmas presents
23. make a Christmas table centrepiece
24. share the story of Christmas, track Santa on santa tracker (maybe midnight mass, still up for discussion)
25. share the joy of Christmas

Still Panicked ?????  Make this advent Calendar

Tomorrow the Christmas Trivia begins....................

Angela

The benefit of being 50

I turned 50 in May and unlike many of my friends it really didn't worry me.  I have always seen another birthday as another chance to celebrate and this year's was no exception - dinner with the love of my life at the Eiffel Tower overlooking a springtime Paris.  A memorable and beautiful night that makes me smile every time I think of it.

But now a few months has gone by and I realized that one of the other benefits of being a "magic 0" number is that you really care a whole lot less about what other people think of you.

I have been preoccupied with a little dilemma this week and during a conversation with an aquaintance he said to me - so you make a decision if its the wrong decision you make another one.  Very true and that is what I did ......and then....I realized....

The down side of being 50 is that I don't have too many bad decisions ( or good ones for that matter) left - now for a moment that was a little depressing but then it hit me -
make the decisions faster
be more fearless
care less about what others think of them

- like Nike said Just do it!!

Not a bad creed for the next 50 years .......

until next time

Angela

What I do.....

This is what I do....

http://ecd1.platinumhd.tv/videos/kgaqmzb7gp-c0f97ac3-webstream.mp4

Until next time

Angela

Sewing time.....

One of the things I promise myself I would do more of is sewing. But I confess it hasn't really happened so far..... I bought these fabric to make a baby quilt for a close friend just before her 12 week appointment - tomorrow is her baby shower and they don't look much different.

So is sewing like riding a bike ?  Can you just jump on the machine and whip up a baby quilt in no time flat after being away from he machine for almost eight months - I am about to find out !

Wish me luck and send good sewing vibes my way.

Until next time

Angela aka daisymum