DECEMBER

3-11

Hanukkah

Hebrew calendar: Kislev 25 -- Teves 2, 5760

Hanukkah commemorates the unlikely 2nd-century victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Seleucid dynasty in Israel, as recounted in the Book of Maccabees. Later commentary adds a more famous story related to Hanukkah: when the Jews had routed their oppressors and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, the one-day supply of oil they had for their lamps miraculously lasted eight days. To symbolize this, Jews today light candles on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Hanukkah has come to include gift-giving, probably because of its proximity to Christmas. Traditional Hanukkah foods like potato latkes, which are fried in oil, remind Jews of the miracle of the oil.

Recommended Reading: In October, Jason Aronson released Every Person's Guide to Hanukkah by Ronald Isaacs, a comprehensive overview of the holiday. In 1998, Peter Pauper produced a lovely gift book entitled Chanukah: A Joyous Celebration by Daniel Wolk, which includes the story of the holiday's origins, recipes and even a musical CD. And for an insightful discussion of the expanding role of Hanukkah as a holiday among American Jews, see Jenna Weissman Joselit's The Wonders of America: Reinventing Jewish Culture, 1880“1950 (Hill and Wang, 1994)

25

Christmas

Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, has its roots in both pagan and Christian festivals. Until the fourth century, Christmas was a movable feast, occurring at different times of the year. The Roman Catholic pope fixed the date as December 25 in the fourth century (though Eastern Orthodox Christians reject this date and celebrate the holiday on January 6). The pope chose late December to superimpose the celebration of Christ's birth onto pagan rituals for the winter solstice. Certain ancient influences still remain from the solstice celebration, such as the holiday's emphasis on light. In America today, Christmas is the major holiday of the year, though it has achieved its cultural prominence mostly since the mid-19th century.

Recommended Reading: More than 400 Christmas-related titles have been or will be published in 1999. Many of these are for children, and many adult titles cater to the caterers of the season -- those who cook special holiday fare. For an all-encompassing survey of Christmas, try Omnigraphics Inc.'s Encyclopedia of Christmas, edited by Tanya Gulevich, forthcoming in December. The Little Big Book of Christmas, edited by Lena Tabori, offers biblical accounts, p try, stories, carols and Victorian-inspired illustrations by Tim Shaner (Morrow, Oct.). Thomas Nelson just released Christ, the Light of the World: A Devotional, an inspirational title by Thomas Kinkade, Anne Christian Buchanan and Debra Klinsporn.

26-1/1

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, a recent addition to America's winter holidays, is celebrated by up to 18 million persons of African descent annually, in North America and elsewhere. Founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of black studies, the holiday centers on seven values, or principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Kwanzaa is based on African harvest festivals and fosters community pride. Gifts are normally only given to children and are intended to promote cultural awareness and teach African heritage. Each night of the holiday, families light one of the seven Kwanzaa candles and learn about the value for that day. The week culminates in the Karamu festival, on the night of December 31, with traditional African dishes and entertainment that reinforce the values of Kwanzaa.

Recommended Reading: In 1998, the founder of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga, published Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, with an overview of the holiday and ideas for family celebrations (University of Sankore Press). More suggestions for Kwanzaa observance can be found in Jessica B. Harris's A Kwanzaa Keepsake: Celebrating the Holiday with New Traditions and Feasts (Fireside, 1998).

JANUARY

22

Tu B'Shvat

Hebrew calendar: Shevat 15, 5760

Called "the New Year of trees," Tu B'Shvat once marked the beginning of the fiscal year in ancient Israel, when farmers would be taxed on their harvests. Though a minor holiday in contemporary Judaism, Tu B'Shvat has taken on heightened significance in recent years because of the global ecology movement. Today, Israeli schoolchildren plant trees on the holiday, and Jews all over the world celebrate the renewal of nature. Drawing on the practice of mystical rabbis in the 16th century, many contemporary Jews observe a special Tu B'Shvat seder with symbolic fruits, nuts, and wine.

Recommended Reading: In September, the Jewish Publication Society released Trees, Earth, and Torah: A Tu B'Shvat Anthology, edited by Ari Elon, Naomi Hyman and Arthur Waskow, a full-length treatment of the holiday. The text discusses the holiday's history and provides relevant songs, p try, recipes, stories, crafts and several possible seders.