Let the Holiday Season officially begin…TONIGHT!

Before the circulars arrive, before we get up early for Black Friday or ignore work on Cyber Monday, those who celebrate Hanukkah get it going earlier than any person alive can remember.

Before the circulars arrive, before we get up early for Black Friday or ignore work on Cyber Monday, those who celebrate Hanukkah get it going earlier than any person alive can remember.  Yes, the “Festival of Lights” begins tonight.

The holiday, which runs for eight successive nights commemorates re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E.  Most know Hanukkah for the Menorah, which has eight candles (one lit or each night) to symbolizes the “miracle” that occurred when the Jewish troops set out to light candles to purify the Temple.  After discovering they only had enough oil to last one day of candle burning, the oil somehow lasted for the desired eight.

It’s actually a minor Jewish holiday, but because we share presents I imagine every kid would call it the most MAJOR Jewish holiday of all!

My boys usually get one present a night (some big things, but usually smaller) unless their grandparents or aunts/uncles have sweetened the pile.  Tonight they get gift one.

But this year is kind of weird.  Where normally they would be amped up beyond belief, they are instead more focused on the half-day of school prior to the Thanksgiving break, going “into town” with their friends and going to a movie.  Maybe it will hit them when we light the first candle tonight and they get that first clutch of wrapping paper.  But I have a feeling the “real” Hanukkah feeling won’t begin until Saturday when we head to Aunt Sherry and Uncle Mike’s house our traditional Hanukkah bash.

It is one of my favorite days of the year with three generations of family under one roof.  The food is always great, we watch football or basketball games, with a “mandatory” nap time built in, and then after dinner open presents and eat tons of dessert.

So even though it won’t even be December yet, Hanukkah is here!  And somehow, someway, we will all get in the spirit!

 

Senior Manager, Public Relations & Giving for Coldwell Banker. Grew up in Sarasota and attended college at Western Carolina University. Athena wanted to wake up in that city that doesn’t sleep so headed to Madison Avenue to start her marketing career. She has been with this awesome brand for more than 15 years and can be found generating buzz about CB in every way possible. Athena helps to grow the brand’s position as the most storied real estate company within the industry and has led many high-profile endeavors; she was at the forefront of the brand’s pioneering smart home campaign, raised $6 million in two years to build 130 Habitat for Humanity homes, and led the Homes for Dogs program in partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com that resulted in tens-of-thousands of dogs finding their furever home. She currently leads the CB Supports St. Jude program, which encourages the Coldwell Banker network’s 96,000+ real estate agents to make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for every real estate transaction they represent. In her spare time, you can find her either digging up a new area in her yard for another flower bed or planning her next travel adventure. She's the proud mom of three cats Jolene, Ziggy and Lucy.

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2 Comments

  1. Let the Holiday Season officially begin…TONIGHT! | Elaine Allinson's Blog
    November 27, 2013

    […] post Let the Holiday Season officially begin…TONIGHT! appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue […]

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