8 Hanukkah facts for kids

by Nina Spitzer for SheKnows.com

Even though Hanukkah is often included in "Christmas Around the World" celebrations, it's not the "Jewish Christmas." Here are some basic Hannukah facts for kids.

Hanukkah does fall in December, frequently very near the dates of the Christian Christmas celebration, and may involve the exchange of gifts, but that's where the similarity ends. Here are some basic facts about this Jewish holiday that will help children better understand the difference.

1. Hanukkah (The Festival of Lights)
The history of Hannukah predates Christmas. Antiochus, the Greek king of Syria, outlawed Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. Most Jews were angry and decided to fight back. In 165 B.C.E, the Jewish Maccabees managed to drive the Syrian army out of Jerusalem and reclaim their temple. Hanukkah is the celebration of this victory. In history, Hanukkah has been a minor holiday, only gaining in popularity since the late 1800s. In Hebrew, the word "Hanukkah" means "dedication."

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For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit

Top 10 Interesting Hanukkah Crafts & Activities For Your Kids

From MomJunction

The Hanukkah celebrations are marked with lots of decorations. There is a lot to design and develop to create the best of the Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication.

It’s even more fun with children, as together you can create beautiful decorations. This will be a great way to educate them about the culture and also engage them in some interesting activities.

What Is Hanukkah Festival?

Hanukkah is a lesser known Jewish festival. It starts from the 25th day of Kislev (in December) and goes on for eight days. The festival commemorates the rededication of the temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its ruin by Syrians. Eight lights are successively kindled to mark the same.

Top 10 Hanukkah Crafts And Activities For Kids:

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For more great Hanukkah ideas, check out our    page.

For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit

50 Jewish Things To Do Before 13

By Lenore Skenazy for The Jewish Daily Forward

Bucket lists are kind of sad, focused as they are on the stabbing regrets we’ll feel on our death bed. As if dying weren’t enough of a downer.

On the other hand, the lists do present a nifty, compact way to remind ourselves that the time to enjoy life is now. That’s why I was so excited to hear that Britain’s National Trust had compiled a list of “50 Things To Do Before You’re 12.” What a great way to remind kids — and their parents — that what looms for all tweens is adulthood. Pretty soon it will be too late, or at least more awkward, for kids to make their first fort, or mud pie.

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How Our Schools are Screwing Up Recess

Rachel Fadlon for Kveller

I am *this* close to packing up and moving my family to Finland. This close.

The Finns, they just get it. Their health care system works for everyone. They provide educational opportunities for the their citizens. They all take real vacations and appreciate life. They have amazing maternity leave.

You know what else they get right? School. Have you seen their international rankings? They score above the US in every subject. But what intrigues me most about the Finnish system is how often they let their students take unstructured breaks during the school day. At a time when our school system is reducing the number and length of recess time, the Fins are giving their kids 15-minute breaks after each 45-minute session. Think about that for a minute…

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Think You Hate Barbies? You’ll Probably Love Their New Ad

Joanna Valente for Kveller

When you think of Barbie, you probably don’t think of feminism or female empowerment. If anything, you probably think of all the ways Barbie reinforces unhealthy stereotypes about women’s bodies. Mattel, however, is looking to throw that stereotype in the trash, where it belongs.

Like every major company these days, Mattel is rebranding Barbie with a new advertising campaign. The goal is to show little girls that women aren’t just eye candy, but intelligent people who can make a positive difference in any field they choose. Evelyn Mazzocco, global svp and general manager of Barbie, told Adweek:

“We want to remind the world what Barbie stands for. Founded by a female entrepreneur and mother in 1959, the Barbie brand has always represented the fact that women have choices. This ongoing initiative is designed to remind today’s parents that through the power of imagination, Barbie allows girls to explore their limitless potential.”

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