by James Rodewig
December brings many expectations. In some places, it’s the hope of snow. In many places, it’s a time to be with family, when cold weather draws people indoors and together.
During this time, holiday celebrations bring families close. Scott and Jennifer Ross celebrate Hanukkah every year with their two children Jakob, who is 10, and Emily, who is 8.
“Hanukkah lasts eight nights,” Scott explained. “Basically, the tradition involves lighting the menorah. You say prayers before the lighting of the candles. Then you light the candles and exchange gifts.”
Since kids aren’t typically allowed to play with matches, the Rosses don’t use wax candles. “We actually have an electric menorah,” he said, “so we take turns lighting the candles each night — even the kids get to do that.” A different candle is lit each night until all are lit. The center candle is lit every night and is used to light the others.
The date for Hanukkah varies year to year. This year, the Rosses will begin their celebration at sundown on December 4. The holiday marks a miracle that happened during the ancient rededication of the Jewish temple. The sacred flame was about to go out because there was only enough oil for one day. “It took eight days to find more oil, but the lamp stayed lit for eight days on one day’s supply of oil,” Scott said.
The miracle of the oil plays into the Rosses’ holiday meals. “Traditional Hanukkah foods are anything fried in oil — doughnuts usually and latkes, which are potato pancakes,” Scott added.
“Our kids love making potato latkes” Jennifer continued. “They also like the parties at Hebrew school, getting together with family and lighting menorahs. And of course presents.” Gifts are exchanged every night during Hanukkah, and there can be any number of presents each night.
“We make sure each kid has the same number of gifts and spread them out over all eight nights. We try to keep it about equal … so if my son gets a big gift, we make sure my daughter gets her big gift also,” Scott said. When Jakob got a guitar, Emily got a keyboard. Keeping presents about the same helps keep things fair.
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Jakob Ross enjoys a Hanukkah meal. |
The Rosses often spend the holiday at home, since both of their families live in Florida.
“Some years we drive down to Florida and spend Hanukkah with them,” said Scott. “Usually, we get together with another Jewish family from the temple or just invite friends and other families.” The Rosses have also opened their home to those who don’t typically celebrate the holiday. “We like to share the story of Hanukah with children that don’t know what Hanukah is, just to share what (it) is about and what we believe in,” added Jennifer.
The Rosses look forward to those eight nights as an opportunity to reconnect with friends. “Last year,” Scott recalled, “some friends of ours from Israel, who live a little bit further north of here, invited us over to their house. They had enough menorahs for all the kids, so each kid got to light their own.”
The big dinners and large get-togethers are one of the Rosses’ favorite aspects of the season. “It’s just getting together with other people,” Jennifer explained. “We’re always a part of that, and that’s very special.”
Getting together with family and friends is also a big part of the holidays for the Martin family. Phil and Amy Martin are looking forward to Christmas with their two children, Grant, who is 7, and Connor, who is 4.
“It’s a time that we get together with our families,” said Amy Martin. “We always get together with both our families on Christmas Eve.” Fortunately for the Martins, family visits don’t involve much travel. “We live in Midland and my parents live here also,” she explained. “My husband’s family is in Waverly Hall.”
During the holidays, food and family go hand-in-hand. “We always have a big Christmas Eve meal with my parents,” Amy said. “My grandmother always fixes her dressing, my husband smokes a turkey, and then we open presents with my parents.”
These gatherings also allow time to exchange presents, an activity the children definitely enjoy. “At my parents, the tradition is that we take turns. The youngest opens a present first.” Amy explained. “At my husband’s parents, everyone opens their presents all at once.”
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Conner and Grant Martin whispered holiday wishes during a visit to Santa. |
That evening, Grant and Connor begin preparations, involving cookies and milk, for Santa. “On Christmas morning, the grandparents come over to our house and see what Santa brought the kids,” added Amy.
Kids and parents also both like decorating to get into the holiday spirit. “We always put up a Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the kids help decorate it,” Amy said. “They love putting all the ornaments on the tree.” Some ornaments have been made by their children, and some have been gifts to each other. “My husband has always been into Star Wars,” she said,“so every year, I give him at least one Star Wars ornament.”
Now that he’s older, Grant helps his dad a little outside with decorations. Five years ago, he helped take the décor down — before Christmas was over. “When he first started to walk around, he would take ornaments off and leave them in different rooms of the house,” said Phil.
Besides decorations, the holidays have arrived for the Martins when they begin to hear Christmas music at church, go to Fantasy in Lights, and finally, on Christmas Eve, read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” together. They also read the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth. “The birth of Christ is really something I want to emphasize to our kids,” Phil explained. “I want them to understand the importance of Christmas.”
But for the Martins, another birth story will always be associated with Christmas.
When Amy found out she was pregnant with Connor, the couple decided to announce the news when the family gathered for Christmas.
“We had Grant and all the grandparents
kneeling in front of the Christmas tree,” Phil
remembered. “I took a picture and said‘Everybody say: Mom’s pregnant.’” It took
a few moments for the news to set in, but
when it did, that became the best Christmas
surprise of all.
