Friday, December 14, 2012
While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.
Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.
Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend. Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. To submit an event in the Patch events calendar, click on “Events” at the top of the page and then click on the green "Add an event" button on the right side of the page. 39th Annual Pottery Sale at Towson University 30th Annual All Junior Senior Honor Band Holidays at Hampton Baltimore Ballet's Nutcracker Chesapeake Roller Derby Holy Nativity Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar Breakfast with Santa Nutcracker on Ice The Bard in the Barn The Holiday Train Garden Christmas at Boordy
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.
Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend. Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. Annual Christmas Festival Annual Vendors/Crafters Extravaganza Relay/St. Denis Breakfast Club Franklin High School Presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Family Board Gaming Tea with Robert Armstrong Salem Players Presents: "Pure as the Driven Snow" - A melodrama by Paul Loomis Infninity Theatrical Productions Presents: Oliver
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Take a look at some of the most popular winter holidays, and some of the newer traditions they have spawned.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Brian Hooks
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Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas With a name literally meaning "Christ's Mass," the biggest Christian holiday has become the biggest commercial event in the world. In what may be a surprise to many, a Christmas-like holiday was actually celebrated by the Norse in Scandinavia hundreds of years prior to Jesus' birth. People feasted over burning Yule logs in observance of the winter solstice, according to the History Channel. Now, kids roll into bed the night of Christmas Eve in anticipation of the magical Santa Claus, whose legend of generosity traces back to third-century Turkey. Hanukkah Jewish scripture suggests the origins of Hanukkah, also known as the "festival of lights," date back to around 200 B.C., when a group of Jews in Israel worked to cleanse and …
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Fire engine sirens and microphone static herald the arrival of the holiday season as Santa makes a grand entrance at the 18th annual Catonsville tree lighting ceremony.
It seems no matter how much I try to deny it, the Christmas season is upon us. As has been the case for many years, two key events informed me of the advent of the season- the Norelco commercial with Santa riding an electric razor, and the 18th annual Catonsville Tree Lighting and Santa House Ceremony (click here for information on Santa House holiday hours). I am very proud to say that I have been involved with the Santa House committee since 2001. In September of that year, ground was broken next to the Catonsville fire house for the construction of a new Santa House, replacing the previous House that had served Catonsville, and prior to that, Arbutus, for many years. Led by Lou Weinkam, Jr., the Santa House committee has happily …
Gregg Roberts
4:11 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012
It drives me crazy when people keep repeating the line ''Hanukkah is a minor holiday.'' In Israel children have off all week for Hanukkah. Orthodox Jewish schools in Baltimore have a 4 day weekend. Hanukkah is other then Purim the only holiday that traditionally doesn't have restrictions on music, travel etc. and is the last holiday historically and the only one to have happened in Israel. No … more ›