Happy Hanukkah!

 Happy Hanukkah!

Last night the Festival of Lights began and continues until December 26.  If you aren't familiar with this holiday, you can read an article here that relays the history.  Interestingly enough, the story isn't relayed in the Torah (because it occurred after the Torah was written) but is mentioned in the New Testament because Jesus attended a celebration (or "Feast of Dedication"). 

  

One of the interesting things about Hanukkah in our world...although newspapers mentioned or reported about Hanukkah during the early part of the 20th century, the articles usually appeared in the religious sections of the newspaper.  It wasn't until after World War 2, that even recipes were shared in the newspapers.  

I love Rosalind--who wrote regularly to the Boston Globe newspaper.  She would share recipes to the newspaper each time a holiday approached:

I grew up eating Kugel.  In the late 1950s/early 1960s my Mom got a recipe from a friend at the YWCA and we often make that at Christmas.  Here's the recipe, complete with my mother's misspelling of Kugel and her note that it's delicious with ham (OY VEY!):

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It took until 1979 for the holiday to be recognized in the White House!  Jimmy Carter was the first president to incorporate a lighting of the menorah as part of the holiday festivities.  

This year is the first time a menorah was created especially for the White House, making it an "official" decoration.

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Similarly, there weren't any quilt patterns or even fabric that celebrated the Festival of Lights...until more modern times.  I remember watching the old HGTV show "Simply Quilts" and there was a feature on Hanukkah Quilts.  One of the big pattern designers who featured Hanukkah patterns was/is Cheryl Lynch (see her webpage here) and she may have been the person on "Simply Quilts" I saw.

Anyway, as part of the season, I found some free Hanukkah patterns in case you too are interested in making something to celebrate the season:

Here's a neat table runner!

Another table runner here!

And a lovely quilt here!

5 quilt patterns here!

Chag Urim Sameach!  

Happy Festival of Lights!

Have a safe and happy day!