Erev Chanukkah

I actually made it! The house is beautifully decorated and I had made latkes enough for the whole neighbourhood.

Wanting

When I was little, I was the only Jewish child in my school. I didn’t attend the religion classes (I had cheder on Wednesday afternoon – yeeha!), I didn’t dress up for St Lucy´s Day and I never went to Christmas events at all. Ever. I was invited, but wasn’t allowed to go.

When we got back to school after Christmas break, my friends were all telling each other what Santa had brought them and of course, I had nothing to add to that discussion.

On the phone with my childhood friend Maria the other day, she told me she had always envied me for getting so many presents for Chanukkah – 8 days of revelling!

Oh well, I guess one always want what one doesn’t have.

Gingerbread

Had a lovely evening baking gingerbread with I and J.

Of course, the issue was brought up but it seems like the tree at their (paternal) grandparents' house will do just fine like it always does.

Stressed out

Did I seriously believe I would have the time to update this blog AND plan AND fix everything for this kind of complicated combination of holidays?

I will never, ever again complain when Chanukkah falls at the beginning of December. I will however, start the process in August next year. That's what I'll do.

Lost in translation

This song would probably be all ruined if I translated it into Swedish.

I will just have to keep it for when my kids know English well enough to understand it.

Inflatables

We've been talking about trying to find a really big, beautiful, new Chanukkiah for the past 4-5 years. Accidently, meant as a joke & something we could laugh about, I showed my husband an inflatable one and he just can't get over it.
He wants one.

Picture found here!

Bush or no bush?

This year, my 6-year-old is asking - well, he's actually begging - for a Christmas tree.

The question was inevitable so I should have had a plan, but I don't. And in a certain way, I'm not totally against it either. After all, the tree doesn't really have any religious meaning and the thought of having a beautifully decorated tree to light up our house during the darkest season of the year, is quite tempting actually.

But then again, wouldn't a tree steal the Chanukkiah's thunder in a way? Even if I chanukkize it?

Found this tree here!