Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Thanksgivukkah?

Okay, so apparently today was/is a once in a lifetime event -- both Thanksgiving and Hanukkah fall on the same day!  So a very Happy Day to all!  : )  The shirt image is one of three images I liked that I found online...

Seeing as my family only celebrates Thanksgiving, most of my photos/images today (and tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day Part II -- sorry, late and I am thankful but tired!) will reflect that...

Was up early enough to catch the last of the sunrise, just as the clouds were losing the pink tint (apologies in advance, cell phone had poor quality in my opinion).
 

SO many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day, but my life family friends - God has given so much and I do not always take the time to say thank you.  Blogger is acting up for me, so I shall just leave you with one more actual photo.  Had my sister and her son (my nephew) with us the last two days which was lovely!

My nephew - 2013 his first Thanksgiving

Promise of more photos -- decorations and food mostly! -- to come ::HUGS::

Advent and Hanukkah

Sunday tends to be a religious day (even for those who are not religious -- well, okay, I think it is a day when many people enjoy being able to get in some rest and/or partake in religious activities)... Also I had no clue what to post here today.  In keeping with my personal mission to post something daily, and the hope to not bore whomever reads this, I have found photos that represent both centerpieces for those who are Catholic (an Advent Wreath) and those who are Jewish (a Hanukkah Menorah).

The image on the left is an Advent Wreath. It consists of four candles around the circle (three purple, one pink) and a single white candle in the center. (Sometimes all five candles are white, with the appropriate colored ribbon around each one). The wreath is a way to "count down" to Christmas Day, the celebration of Jesus being born (ie the white/center candle). The Advent Wreath is lit clockwise, one candle every Sunday per week during the Advent season: purple, purple, pink (for joy, the halfway point has been reached), purple, then finally the center/white candle on Christmas Day.

The image on the right is a Hanukkah Menorah. It consists of nice candle slots in a straight line, with eight candles/holes at the same height and the center candle/hole making that first candle higher than the others. Most Menorahs I have viewed are similar in shape to the image I have above -- one raised base with a raised center candle and four candles on each side, creating a total of nine candles in a single horizontal line. Please correct me if I am wrong about the candle color -- I have primarily seen all white candles. There are several variations however, both in the shape of the Menorah itself and some have different colored candles -- yet most keep the "highest" the center candle white. The center candle is lit the first night of Hanukkah and the candles (with various special prayers) are lit one per night during the eight nights of Hanukkah, from left to right (when you are the individual lighting the candle).

As mentioned earlier this month, please feel free to always give me more information about holidays celebrated in your religion (particularly in December!) and correct me/teach me about anything I post that is incorrect.  Thank you and I hope everyone has a good weekend!

 (My personal online Advent wreath -- on the left was last week; today is the second Sunday in Advent so the image has changed. Now there are two candles lit.  Next week the lit pink candle shall mark the third Sunday)

Happy Hanukkah!

As mentioned several times, I have been raised mainly (only?) with Christmas in my past.  In the past couple of years I have slowly gained a few friends whose families celebrate Hanukkah instead of (or sometimes in addition to a partial Christmas).  Therefore I would like to share this cute Snoopy announcement one of my friends put up on her page and wish you all a Happy Hanukkah!

The month of December is filled with many holidays, but personally I only really hear of Hanukkah and Christmas -- if you celebrate others please share, I would love to learn more!! I do have a very poor grasp on Hanukkah (have seen it spelled "Chanukah" - not sure if there is a religious difference or not)... I remember vaguely some elementary school teachings. There had been fighting, a battle, and all of the holy oil was desecrated or destroyed.

All that is, except for one single days worth -- which miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing more pure/holy oil to be created.  The joy and celebration is shared/taught every year with an eight day celebration, lighting one candle on the Menorah each night. I only recall the dreidel, a four sided top, each representing "all" "nothing" "half" and... "put in" sorry, had to search online for the fourth side, remember this is not a holiday I am familiar with (yet) which the children play with.  Also that potato cakes "lakes" are a very popular food to serve at this time of year.

...Looking over what I just wrote it sounds a bit foolish, but hey, better to show that I am willing to learn than to ignore the equivalent of "my" Christmas, right?  (Maybe?) Anyone who knows more or wants to share please feel free to!  Thanks for following my ramblings, and congratulations to many I know who are in the process of expecting, are about to deliver, and/or have recently delivered a new miracle -- I wish all of you joy and good luck and am sending prayers with ::HUGS::