Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • December 5, 2012 Contrary to popular belief among nonJews, Chanukah is not a large, spiritual Jewish holiday. The holiday’s religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavu’ot. However, due to the holiday’s proximity to Christmas (it’s The miracle and tradition behind Chanukah celebrated during the Hebrew month of Kislev, which puts it rather close to Christmas most years), Chanukah gets swept up in much of the fanfare associated with Christmas and other religious holidays celebrated this time of year. Chanukah is at its essence a celebration The thick, spiced drink we know as eggnog has become synonymous with the holidays. It is so linked with the Christmas season that a person may be hard-pressed to find it sold in the supermarket any other time of the year. But eggnog wasn’t always the holiday beverage it has become. Eggnog is believed to have originated in 17th century Europe, primarily as a drink for the elite, since the ingredients in the beverage were hard to come by. There are different theories on the origins of the word eggnog. Some believe its name was derived from the Old English word “nog,” which meant “strong beer.” The “egg” refers to one of the fresh eggs that were part of the beverage. Others believe the name comes from the word “noggin,” which was a vessel for serving drinks in taverns. The drink was called “egg in a noggin,” which was shortened to “eggnog.” Still others say the name was derived from the term “grog,” which was another term for an alcoholic beverage. “Egg n’ grog” was eventually abbreviated to “eggnog.” Although there is little certainty to the origins of the name, the recipe for eggnog has essentially remained unchanged throughout the centuries. It consists of Origins of a holiday staple beaten eggs, cream or milk, and sugar mixed with some sort of alcoholic spirit. The Old English were believed to mix it with wine, though once the drink was brought to the New World, the colonists substituted rum for the wine. Rum was readily available through tradesmen running between the Americas and the Caribbean and was therefore less expensive (continued on page 21) of oil and the light that flourished in the Jewish Temple -- hence the name “Festival of Lights” given to the holiday. Here is how the story goes: Chanukah is a Jewish winter festival of lights with a powerful historical significance. In this time the Maccabees revolted against foreign domination. In approximately 165 B.C.E., they finally wrested control of Israel from the Greeks, who had ruled the land and had desecrated the temple. When the temple was reclaimed, the Jews cleaned it out in preparation to offer sacrifices anew. The story of the cruse of oil that was found in the temple, sufficient for one night, that miraculously lasted eight nights, provides the story that is commemorated in the Chanukah -- the menorah lit in Jewish homes on the holiday. (A Chanukah is a menorah that has eight lights; the menorah in the Temple had seven lights.) The hero of the holiday is usually reckoned Judah Maccabee, who led the revolt. However some have suggested that the real hero was the anonymous priest who first hid the cruse of oil. For it was he who believed the temple would one day be reclaimed. His act of quiet faith ensured the possibility of the temple’s redemption. Even though the holiday commemorates a military victory, the motto of the holiday comes from the prophet Zecha- riah: “not by might and not by power but by my spirit says the Lord of hosts.” Rabbis believed that ultimately the only true and lasting victory was that of the spirit. In medieval times it was traditional to give the children spending money on Chanukah. Some believe that the custom originated in the conquest of the Maccabees. When a group ruled, they could begin to mint their own coins: The Romans, Greeks, Babylonians, and Israelites all minted coins. To give children coins on Chanukah both reflected the celebration and the historical memory of sovereignty. Another theory is that the custom originated to enable children in dark winter months to celebrate by buying sweets and giving tzedakah (charity) to others in need. In time, as Christmas became associated with gift-giving, and the holidays fell at the same time in the calendar, Jewish children began to receive presents as well. Nonetheless, presents are not the heart of the holiday. There is absolutely no requirement to give gifts, although gifts of all kinds are often exchanged. Nonetheless, in giving the emphasis should be on those gifts that capture the essence of Chanukah: which highlight the spiritual center of the celebration. The Chanukah is to be placed in the window, in order to publicize the miraculous memory of the restoration of the temple and the Chanukah lights.