That put a smile on my pupik
Dec. 1st, 2010 06:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
loony_moonyHAPPY FIRST CANDLE, YOU GUYS. :D
I wanna talk for a moment about the significance of Hanukkah for me personally.
I know I come off as super-Jewish in here, but I'm actually mostly Jewish by heritage and ethnicity, and it's an incredibly potent presence in my life and in my own sense of self. I don't believe in god, and I don't follow Jewish customs (like keeping Kosher or praying). I am spiritual, but it's non-denominational.
I do, however, observe Hanukkah and have been doing so my entire life.
To me, Hanukkah doesn't represent some obscure historic event, or a national victory of any kind. To me, Hanukkah represents hope. I observe it, because to me, the lights of the Menorah symbolize good memories, good times and a good future yet to come. When I light the candles, I don't see them as light vanquishing darkness, but rather as light bringing comfort in darkness. It's there to be my companion, when life scares and overwhelms me.
Hanukkah comes at a bleak time of the year. The nights are getting long, and the days are gray. But when I see Menorahs at people's windows, it reminds me of the light within me. I know this is a really sappy thing to say, but I like that thought. I like that I have a small light within me, finding a brother or a sister when I light the Menorah candles in the darkness. I like that I get to be genuinely thankful for all the things that brought me to where I am now, even if I'm an unfinished product; things like family, ancestry, friends, studies, joy and sorrow. This is my private moment of thanks. I think Christians would call this "grace".
So this is why I love this holiday, people.
Happy Hanukkah. :) ♥
(Here, have some Jon Stewart.)
I wanna talk for a moment about the significance of Hanukkah for me personally.
I know I come off as super-Jewish in here, but I'm actually mostly Jewish by heritage and ethnicity, and it's an incredibly potent presence in my life and in my own sense of self. I don't believe in god, and I don't follow Jewish customs (like keeping Kosher or praying). I am spiritual, but it's non-denominational.
I do, however, observe Hanukkah and have been doing so my entire life.
To me, Hanukkah doesn't represent some obscure historic event, or a national victory of any kind. To me, Hanukkah represents hope. I observe it, because to me, the lights of the Menorah symbolize good memories, good times and a good future yet to come. When I light the candles, I don't see them as light vanquishing darkness, but rather as light bringing comfort in darkness. It's there to be my companion, when life scares and overwhelms me.
Hanukkah comes at a bleak time of the year. The nights are getting long, and the days are gray. But when I see Menorahs at people's windows, it reminds me of the light within me. I know this is a really sappy thing to say, but I like that thought. I like that I have a small light within me, finding a brother or a sister when I light the Menorah candles in the darkness. I like that I get to be genuinely thankful for all the things that brought me to where I am now, even if I'm an unfinished product; things like family, ancestry, friends, studies, joy and sorrow. This is my private moment of thanks. I think Christians would call this "grace".
So this is why I love this holiday, people.
Happy Hanukkah. :) ♥
(Here, have some Jon Stewart.)
