Also most people play dreidel. Dreidel is a traditional game played with a four sided top. In dreidel you can win gelt (money, or chocolate coins). I have interviewed Aiyana Cline about Hanukkah and how her family celebrates it. Her family plays dreidel. She says, “there is a supposedly weighted dreidel ” meaning if you spin it it will always land on the good sides. One of her favorite memories is winning against her family with this dreidel. She says, “ it’s so fun because everyone is so competitive”. “ Even though you win the chocolate you don’t eat it because it is really old”. Aiyana celebrates Traditional Christmas as well so she says they get their Hanukkah presents on Christmas. At night she says that her family switches off on who gets to light the menorah.
The menorah is the holder of the eight candles, and the ninth candle is just for lighting it. On the first night you light one, on the second night you light the first one and then the second one , and so on until the last night were you light all eight. Some families leave the menorah in the window to remind others of the miracle of Hanukkah. The history of Hanukkah started long ago when the Greeks took over the Jewish community and forced them to practice Greek religion. One day a Jewish man and his sons stood up to the Greeks and started a rebellion. In the end, the Jewish rebellion won and the Jewish man and his troops found the last of the very little oil they had. The amount of oil was so small they thought it would only last for a day. Then they light the menorah and the oil burned for eight days straight. That is the miracle of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a time for family and celebrations. Happy Hanukkah!
Russian Orthodox believers celebrate their own Christmas. Their Christmas lasts for two days, January 7-8. Throughout these days
most families go to church and have family parties. I have interviewed Tatiana Reutov and Katerina Kuzmin about how their families celebrate Christmas. Tatiana Reutov says, “she get gifts, including jewelry and shoes”. She says, “her favorite dessert on Christmas is trifle”. “Trifle has layers of berries and whipped cream, and on top there is either cake or jello.” Tatiana also said, “one of her memories of Christmas is when she gets to play outside with her siblings”. Other families have bread with garlic and honey this is called benten. For about six weeks before Christmas Russian Orthodox believers fast. Katerina Kuzmin said, “during the fast they can’t eat gluten, meat, and many other foods”.
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