Trying Hanukkah

Ian and I decided during our engagement that we were going to explore holidays. Both of us feeling overly familiar but under attached to the traditional christian American holidays we want to branch out. Getting married in August our first year of holidays has been: Halloween (American), Thanksgiving (American), and now Hanukkah (Jewish).

So how dose one who is not Jewish begin to explore and try Hanukkah? Well what we have done is
1) Made all gifts given Hanukkah gifts, wrapped with ladles and blue ribbons with instructions to be opened during Hanukkah.
2) I made a Pandora station of Hanukkah music, which in Truth is not all that different sounding than Christmas music.
3) We are having a Hanukkah dinner on Sunday with Potato Vegetable Kluge, Cole Slaw, Smashed Potato Lakes, Apple Sauce, Jelly Filled Donuts, Popcorn and Chocolates.
4) We got 5 different Hanukkah movies that we are going to watch.

Now some interesting learning's have come from this exploration. Your work place is not closed so no real opportunity to feel that sense of celebration that comes with holidays. The thrift store in Dickinson has nothing you can use to decorate your home for Hanukkah. No business or office in town is in the Hanukkah mood. The only encouragement I have had is seeing FB friends making posts about the holiday or the one Jewish person in Dickinson, offering to share tips on cooking. I am glad we are doing this and look forward to movies and Jelly Donuts this weekend!

We are planning on keeping New Years (American) but I hope to add at least one more this spring or summer that we have not done before .... some ideas I have are: Imbolc, Bahá'í Naw-Rúz or Purim. My hope is being near a large city this spring we might be able to find a festival of some sorts for our next holiday =)

And what you may ask are we doing with our vacation days during the traditional holidays? Going on vacation =)