All depending on where in the world you are
Here (Denmark/Nordics) Xmas is on December 24th every year

If it didn't ring true it wouldn't be nearly so funny.

Allow me to thank you from my mother (Deborah), my sister (Sarah), my brother (Samuel), my daughter (Miriam) and myself. 

Thank you for this, Seth.  I've always wondered about the personal, cultural minutiae of Chanukah/Chanukkah/Chanukka/Channukah/Hanukah/Hannukah.  I knew about the general accoutrements (menorrah, dreidel....Adam Sandler "Eight Crazy Nights" album   ), but always wondered....what's it like to BE Jewish and experience it from within.

As far as that bit about the onions and potatoes, I can tell you, that smell can be a familiar Christmas smell, too, if you happen to have immigrant grandparents from Germany (can you imagine the smell of cookies, kuchens, AND pototoes and onions?)

Just want to say, that I'm jewish and I live in israel. I though I'm lonely here.

....I love the Henny Youngman style...it is also a good way to learn... Thank you for the interesting read Doc, I know I have learned a thing or two....   btw...I love potato pancakes!!!

 Now that was a funny way of comparing/saying.  Loved it.  I knew most of this as I went with a Jewish girl for 3+ years.  We celebrated 2 sets of holidays.  I think she really wasn't so religious but viewed it as honoring the traditions because her parents did.  She was a bit more prograssive but she drew the line at going with only Jewish boys.  But we broke up because I wanted to make the Army my career and she wanted me to do something more traditional.  She worked in a bank, loans I think.  To bad, still remember her and the fun we had.  Do think it would have pissed her parents off if we had gotton married as I'am sure it wouldn't have been with their blessing and as I wouldn't have converted.

Ok then, my daughter is catholic her husband is jewish, their child is jewish/catholic, so they get to celebrate 2 holidays, bonus for the child!!!!

This reply is specially for you in "Heblish": !! חנוכה שמח

Al tehiyeh atzuv, hamud shelli. Tehiyeh b'machshavoti b'hag hazeh (uvah zman hazeh) v' atah lo levadcha! Hag Sameach! Natati lecha karma "Hanuhah Gelt" az lech sahek otah!

Which translates to: Don't be sad, sweety! You shall be in my thoughts on this holiday (and a small pun on a prayer we say over the candles) and you are not alone! Happy Holiday! I gave you a little karma as "Hanukah gelt" (money to gamble on the dreidel) with so go play it!!

חג שמח

Snowy thanks! I didn't know that. Snowy went and Skinned Christmas!!!

Zu...glad you enjoyed...Holiday blessings on your and to your beautiful family!

Karen, I will make the first latke a 'Karen' latke! Shaped like the winky you made for me.

tbc will get a "cholla" latke!

WOM would have made a good M.O.T.

jpmurph1 LUCKY kid! Don't you go lifting any of your gradchild's presents!!!

Thanx for the responses! They're the real reason I do it...but don't tell anyone! Shhhhh.... You'll scare Moses Claus away!

Growing up we had to decide each year which we wanted to celebrate with presents. Xmas always won because the presents were better. We still did the candle thing but it didn't compare to the present thing. Mom is Jewish, Dad is not.

Hey NT!

My Dad was Protestant and Mom Jewish too! Never made me choose, though...always ended up with great stuff! And wonderful times...man, the memories!

tbc: Silly! For you? Quills would be spikes made of chocolate!

My Dad was Protestant and my Mom, Jewish....her family loved him to death....and he never converted. Why convert? We could always "skin" you...LOL...WOM as a Hassid!

thanks for that Doc

since the thread is about explaining traditions...............

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure.  

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.  When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.  Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

So, frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum.
When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa.  Isn't this a lovely day?  I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"


,,,,,,,, And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree........

You're never lonely when you are really a part of the WC community.  It's not just about skinning and computers, it's about people.  Thanks for being here Kaazz.

Hey Doc my friend.  A nice story for us all.  I suppose I get the matza.

The conspiracy deepens! Beware!

Lantec didn't write this. Lantec would NEVER write or think of this! I believe starkers wrote this and hacked the livin' heck outta poor Lantec's account! Not even the Mods are safe!

Thanks for your humor and friendship Lantec . That joke was "a corker" so to speak. I'm not gonna tell you what Zubaz had planned for that poor little dreidel widget!

My blessings to you, and your family these holidays!

1. Absolutely correct and well said to Kaazz!

2. Matza is Passover, angus (as well you know). No Matza for you, buddy...Pita with shawarma and t'hina with salad and pickles! Only the best for angus! 

Entertaining way of describing that Jewish holiday starting with either a Ch or H... 

Yep, we've got that in Switzerland as well. And it is not Santa (who goes around on Dec. the 6th disciplining the children), that brings all the gifts, but Baby-Jesus himself...

That's too funny!!! 

Thanks all, happy Hannukah all!