first day of hanukkah

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Today is the first day of Hanukkah, Jewish religious holiday. These beautiful antique menorahs are from Martha Stewart December 2002 magazine. Hanukkah started way back in 164 B.C. Here's the story:

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"After having forbidden the Jewish people to practice their religion, the Syrian king Antiochus, who controlled all of Palestine, sent his army to defile their temple in Jerusalem. But a band of Jews battled the Syrians and won back their religious freedom. As the Jews set about the task of rededicating the temple, they found among the ruins only one vial of untainted olive oil with which to rekindle the perpetual flame of the temple's menorah. Then the miracle happened: The one-day supply of oil kept the candelabra burning for eight days.

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Today this story is commmemorated throughout the eight days of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, when Jews rejoice by lighting menorahs, singins songs of freedom, and preparing festive meals."

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I am not Jewish but I really feel for the Jewish people and all the many troubles and trials they have endured. I like Hanukkah and what it celebrates. I'm contemplating about adding little bit of this tradition to our family. The potato latkes sure look delicious. They are grated potatoes fried in oil that look like little "potato cakes", recipe can be found at www.marthastewart.com, I like the parsnip latkes recipe. Why not make some latkes, light a new candle each eight days of Hanukkah. If not this year, definetly the next.

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Happy Hanukkah!

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ps. These pictures look absolutely gorgeous in the magazine. Too bad the quality of my pictures here aren't the greatest.