"Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Festival of Lights - Hey!"

It is now the third day of Hanukkah, and much is a-buzz at our house! Tomorrow night we're having a Hanukkah Party with people from our Torah Study and my Grandparents are coming over this weekend (if the pass allows - snow is abundant in Washington this year!), plus we're doing the usual holiday/winter activities: baking, sledding and holiday decor!

Presents are of course part of the fun, and this year we're doing it a little different. Instead of just receiving gifts from our parents, everyone in the family is having a night to give. On your night, you get to light the menorah and give out the presents you've made/bought for everyone. So far it's been fun! Tonight is my night, so of course I'm exited to see how everyone likes their gifts. I won't tell you what I'm giving yet, as some of those certain people read my blog :) , but I'll definitely post some pictures and talk about it afterwards, probably in a couple of days here.

Although I don't have time to tell you the Hanukkah story about the Maccabees, here are some links for you on Hanukkah and the story behind it.


- Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
By Mrs. Brown at Growing in Grace Magazine

- Hanukkah Story
From About.com

- Hanukah
From BethHaMashiach.com

- The Messiah In Hanukkah
From BiblicalHolidays.com

One last thought: although the Hanukkah story is not in the Bible, and God never commanded anyone to celebrate it, did you know that not only is the Festival is mentioned in the New Testament, but that Jesus actually celebrated it? Here's the verse:

"Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch." John 10: 22-23

Cool, huh?

Here's a Happy Hanukkah from me to you!