. . .  8 days of Chanukah Video Highlights – a new video every day!

We hope you’ll enjoy these fun, interesting, and we hope entertaining, holiday clips to help celebrate the holiday. Enjoy a new one each day of the holiday

Remember – You can check out a new holiday video each day right here or check out our Chanukah Video page for past video highlights.

Holidays on the Net is delighted to invite you to share in our celebration of the Jewish festival of lights, which begins this year on December 11, 2009. The eight-day holiday of Chanukah, which means “rededication” in Hebrew, celebrates the victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Greeks and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

At Chanukah on the Net, you can learn the story of Chanukah, the history of the holiday, and the legacy of the Maccabees. You can also discover why this holiday is referred to as the Holiday of Lights and other interesting Chanukah tidbits in Did You Know?

Come read all about the Chanukah traditions, including lighting the menorah (chanukiah), playing with the dreidel, and frying up festive foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). Be sure to check out our extensive collection of Chanukah crafts, coloring pages, games and recipes. And finally, don’t forget to browse through our selection of Chanukah e-cards — perfect for far-away friends and family.

We have everything you need to enjoy a festive Chanukah and we look forward to sharing our holiday traditions with you and your family.

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

The First Night of Chanukah (Jewish)
Tonight is the start of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, which commemorates religious freedom, national pride and the 2nd century BCE victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks. Jewish people mark this eight-day holiday by lighting the menorah, an eight-branched candelabra, and eating foods fried in oil such as potato latkes and jelly donuts.

For more info visit our Chanukah celebration – We’ve got stories, tasty holiday recipes, holiday pictures for the kids to print and color, easy crafts to make, holiday games to play, and spinning dreidels!

Chanukah on the Net

I actually get asked this quite frequently whenever a Jewish holiday approaches. And this morning I received another email so I thought I’d share my answer in case there are others are also wondering…

What would be an appropriate gift to take to Jewish friends when we arrive at their home on Friday, December 11?

Just think of it as a dinner party. Wine, dessert/snack/candy, flowers. If you live in an area where the stores tend to carry Chanukah items you might be able to find something easily.

If you do bring food or drink please make sure it is Kosher and Parve (non-dairy). Kosher because its a Jewish home and Parve because if they serve meat – dairy foods would not be not eaten. Or you could ask the hostess (host) what’s being served and go from there.

If they are not observant Jews or don’t keep kosher than it would be much simpler as you wouldn’t have to worry about the whole kosher/Parve thing.

BTW – definition of Parve

If you are unsure then flowers or a holiday plant is fine (skip poinsettia!) especially if you could find something in blue and white (the colors of Chanukah).

If you have any other suggestions or advice please share with us in the comments below.

Happy Chanukah!

photo credit: via flickr

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures &
Folklore about Chanukah
the Jewish Festival of Lights
Dec 11 : begins tonight @ sundown

Did you know that there are as many ways to spell the holiday of Chanukah as there are days in the festival?

The numerous spellings derive from the fact that the English term is a transliteration of a Hebrew word. Whether you spell is Chanukka, Hanukah, Hanukka, or even Khanuka, rest assured it’s all the same holiday.

~ Chanukah begins tonight @ sundown. A Happy and Peaceful Chanukah to all! ~

Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days. Jewish people mark this eight-day holiday by lighting the menorah, an eight-branched candelabra, and eating foods fried in oil such as potato latkes and jelly donuts. Join us for a new Did You Know? each day as we count down to Chanukah.

Chanukah, Hanukkah, Hanaka — no matter how you spell it — the fun begins at sundown on Friday December 11th.

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

Operation Santa Paws
This holiday season help abused, abandoned animals and less fortunate pets by collecting and bringing canine/feline toys/treats to your local shelters and rescue organizations.

photo credit: via flickr

You can check out a new holiday video each day right here or check out our Advent Calendar each day.

link: Advent Calendar on the Net