Lights, Latkes, Action: Hanukkah in Los Angeles

Hanukkah!  No matter how you spell it (Hanukkah, Hannukah or Chanukah), Los Angeles is the perfect place to celebrate it. Children playing in the snow, lighting candles while it’s freezing outside, eating hot latkes after freezing their toes and fingers…  Well, maybe not in Los Angeles. But you can still have plenty of fun without bundling up this Hanukkah in beautiful
Southern California.

What and How We Celebrate During Hannukah

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, begins this year on December 15, 2006 at sunset and continues until sunset on December 23.  During this time, Jewish families light candles every night, eat holiday foods, play traditional games, and give gifts.  The candles are lit progressively, with two being lit the first night, and three the second night, and so on, until on the last night nine candles are lit.  The candles are placed in a ceremonial candle holder known as a menorah.  The menorahs are often beautifully decorated works of art which are passed down for generations.  

The most famous of the holiday foods eaten by Jews during Hanukkah are latkes.  These are potato pancakes, and they are often served with sour cream and apple sauce.  The classic Hanukkah game is called dreidle.  In this game, the players spin a four-sided top, and depending on which side the top lands on, they win or lose money, or chocolates, or whatever is being played for.  Families gather together, gifts are given, and a good time is had by all.  Some families even decorate the Hanukkah Bush with ornaments.