BS: Hannukah thread and question

Subject: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 10:16 AM

I know next to nothing about Hannukah so I hope you'll be patient with my question.

If Hannukah celibrates an oil lamp that burned for eight days with only one days worth of oil - why are candles burned? Why not an oil lamp ? Or is an oil lamp burned too ? Why and when was the switch made from a lamp to candles ?

If anyone would like to explain some of the other traditions of Hannukah I'd love to learn more about it.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: Once Famous
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 11:48 AM

My wife is calling me to leave and I will get back to this thread.

The tradional menorah for Hanukah holds 8 candles, which symbolize the oil that burned for 8 days. However, I have seen a few old European menorahs that do use oil and have a "cup" for each day.

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: Peace
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 11:51 AM

Good site here, WesleyS.

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: pdq
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 03:25 PM

...it is a good site, Peace...written by someone with a sense of humor:

"It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukkah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes (pronounced "lot-kuhs" or "lot-keys" depending on where your grandmother comes from. Pronounced "potato pancakes" if you are a goy.)"

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: GUEST,bill h
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 03:36 PM

Candles are merely symbols of the oil lamp(s) .

I have a friend who is a collector of antique menorahs and many of them have the little well for oil---very valuable pieces of antiquity.

For a true laugh about the holiday and the season the OpEd page of the NY Times of Friday is not to be missed. You will laugh out loud and the article and some of the traditions it sends up

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 04:54 PM

I just bought a new menorah a couple of weeks ago .. why and when candles came to be ... I dunno. I do remember seeing an oil burning menorah many many years ago.

I'll ask my daughter-in-law that question ... she'll probably have the answer.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 04:55 PM

Me Number 6 posting up there at 4.54.

siX

Subject: RE: BS: Hannukah thread and question
From: Once Famous
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 09:08 PM

One thing for sure is that Hanukah is really just a minor holiday in the Jewish culture. Because it has always been a winter event around the time of Christmas, parents in the mid 20th century started to make it into some kind of event to not make Jewish kids feel left out. I have always believed Hanukah gifts should just be somewhat token in nature and know a lot of people who tend to keep this aspect somewhat low key also.

The funny thing I usually get asked by someone at work every year is, "Hey it's Hanukah. Why are you working?"