Blogging about my family and our Jewish traditions is something I have been doing for almost four years now. I feel that it is important to share how we celebrate our holidays with my readers, our family, and eventually it will be something for my children to look back at at. With Thanksgiving behind us, Jewish members of the community are now getting ready for Chanukah. This year, we will light the first candle on our menorah at sundown on December 1st.
Being part of the Jewish community in the Capital District can sometimes be a challenge. Several years in a row we have had to cancel plans for community Chanukah parties thanks to Mother Nature. With this in mind, my husband and I have tried to start traditions of our own with our sons.
Our meaning of Chanukah
Growing up, we always stressed togetherness during Chanukah. My husband and I decided that we wanted to keep this going in the next generation. It is too easy to indulge too much during the season thanks to the over commercialism of Chanukah. Instead, we have turned the focus away from gift giving and more to spending time with one another. No need to worry, we do buy a few items for our boys.
In our house, we make it a point to light our menorah together each night before we sit down to dinner. After our meal, we play games, read books, listen to music (our favorites are the Chanukah songs from Barenaked Ladies) and enjoy family time while watching the glow of the candles. During the weekend of Chanukah, we often have a gathering with our extended family to enjoy a meal and spend time with them.
Food glorious food
Let’s be honest, Jewish holidays focus a lot on food! The main star of Chanukah is the potato latke (pancake) with apple sauce and/or sour cream. Nothing says Chanukah more than walking into a house and smelling the onions and potatoes frying up. Jelly donuts and other fried foods often show up on traditional Chanukah plates because of the tie in with the miracle of the oil. No, this is not the healthiest of holidays, but it is all in moderation. Of course, if you plan on playing the dreidel game (a must in our house), you will also need some supplies. Some families use chocolate gelt (money) coins, but we prefer M&Ms.
Learning about Chanukah
As a teacher, I have quite the collection of holiday books. This year, my boys will get a new Chanukah book for a night of the holiday. These books will be welcome additions to our collection. This weekend, we will spend some time gathering all of our Chanukah books to read together in the next week. The tales help to focus the kids on the real meaning of Chanukah. No, they may not detail the battles fought during the historic times, but they show the boys why the Festival of Lights and miracle are so important to Jewish people around the world.
Another tradition I have is thanks to my mother. While growing up she would visit my elementary school to celebrate Chanukah with my classes. She would bring in dreidels for each of the children and have chocolate ready for us to play. Some years, she and another parent would even make fresh potato latkes for all of the kids. As a mother, I have continued on with this. I have gone into my oldest son’s class and sat on the carpet teaching the kids about gimmel being the supreme spin on the Chanukah game. Memories of this time with my son and his friend is something I will always cherish. It makes me feel good that we are sharing with others
As our boys get older, we will likely add new items into our mix. Right now, we love being able to share our heritage and traditions with our kids in a simple way that fits our family. It is more about the memories we make together during Chanukah than the material items that they may get.
Beth writes at TheAngelForever.com about life as a teacher, turned SAHM. She is also a columnist for KidsFunPlaza Northeastern NY that is now distributed at Price Chopper locations across the Capital District.
Made famous for hosting two winter Olympic Games, the village of Lake Placid will be hosting the third annual Holiday Village Stroll, December 10-12, 2010. The weekend provides a festive start to the holiday season in a destination already known for its majestic mountain setting and international appeal. From children’s activities and special Lake Placid events to nightlife, shopping, dining specials and entertainment options, the weekend’s festivities have been designed with families, singles and couples in mind.
Highlights of the weekend include a free skating party (with free skate rentals) at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, Santa’s arrival by fire truck on Main Street, a free matinee showing of “The Polar Express” in the old-fashioned movie theatre, strolling carolers, free holiday crafts and gingerbread house making, a tree lighting in the village’s lakeside park with the Lake Placid school chorus, and a special regional performance of the Nutcracker at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts.
On Saturday afternoon the specialty shops will present special sales and events. Restaurants around town will be offering free samples Saturday afternoon along Main Street and will offer special Holiday Stroll specials.
The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Committee and Price Chopper are happy to announce that we are giving away a Family Weekend to the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll! We recognize that many families have experienced a difficult year, and want to help make this holiday season memorable and special for one deserving family. In order to be entered into this giveaway, we are asking you to share with us why this weekend would be meaningful to your family or to a family you know. Entries must be submitted by Monday, November 15th at 12:00pm to Price Chopper by emailing photos@pricechopper.com AND commenting on our Facebook page.
One winner, selected by the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Commitee, will receive a Family Weekend with accommodations for four people to the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, NY. Also, if enough people “like” the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll Facebook Page, they have agreed to give another Family Weekend away!
In the spirit of the holiday season, we’re asking you to share with us how you or someone you know is helping others for a chance to win one of five gift baskets of Cleanlogic™ bath and body products.
Cleanlogic™ is setting a new consumer packaging standard by incorporating Braille into the mold of their bottles of body washes and body lotions so the blind and visually impaired consumer can identify their products by touch. The Braille is also part of an awareness campaign created by the Inspiration Foundation to educate the public about the 70% unemployment rate in the blind and visually impaired community and to lower it by providing adaptive computer technology and professional job training. With every purchase of a Cleanlogic™ product, a portion of your sale is donated to Inspiration Foundation™ (IF™), which is an organization that collaborates with non-profits who serve people with vision loss across the U.S. The Inspiration Foundation will then distribute a percentage of the proceeds to your local non-profit which is the Northeastern Association of the Blind in Albany.
Participants have until noon tomorrow to comment with their story, either here on our blog or on our Facebook Page.
Don’t forget about your furry friends this Halloween – many of them want to be a part of the action, too! There are plenty of fun ways to include your pets in your family’s Halloween festivities.
1. Dress up your pet to go along with costumes members of your family are wearing. Make sure your pet is comfortable in his or her outfit!
2. Securely on a leash, let your dog show off their costume to all their neighborhood friends while taking the kids trick-or-treating!
3. Make sure you have safe Halloween treats for your pets to enjoy while the kids eat their candy!
4. If your neighborhood is pet-friendly, organize a parade for the kids and pets! Costume contests are a fun way to get everyone involved!
5. Enter your pet in the Nestle Purina and Price Chopper’s Halloween Pet Photo Contest on Facebook! Read the Pet Photo Contest Rules here.
It is important to remember that this holiday is not for all pets. Here are some safety tips from Friends of Animal Care & Control to help make you and your pet’s Halloween safe and stress-free:
- Make sure your animals are safely indoors for Halloween. You don’t want pranksters teasing, scaring or harming dogs and cats that are kept in front yards or wandering the streets Halloween night.
- If possible, keep your pets in a spare bedroom for the evening. Dogs and cats can quickly dart out the door unnoticed and even the calmest dog may be scared by costumed visitors which could result in a bite.
- Keep your pets away from Halloween candy. Chocolate can be toxic and cellophane or tin foil wrappings could get caught in your pet’s digestive tract, causing illness or even death.
- Watch your pet around jack-o-lanterns. Curious cats may try to play with the flickering flame and a rambunctious pup could accidentally knock over the Halloween pumpkin.
- Always supervise your pet while in costume.
Do you have other fun ideas or tips to treat your pet to a great Halloween? Share them here!
Don’t forget about your furry friends this Halloween – many of them want to be a part of the action, too! There are plenty of fun ways to include your pets in your family’s Halloween festivities.
1. Dress up your pet to go along with costumes members of your family are wearing. Make sure your pet is comfortable in his or her outfit!
2. Securely on a leash, let your dog show off their costume to all their neighborhood friends while taking the kids trick-or-treating!
3. Make sure you have safe Halloween treats for your pets to enjoy while the kids eat their candy!
4. If your neighborhood is pet-friendly, organize a parade for the kids and pets! Costume contests are a fun way to get everyone involved!
5. Enter your pet in the Nestle Purina and Price Chopper’s Halloween Pet Photo Contest on Facebook! Read the Pet Photo Contest Rules here.
It is important to remember that this holiday is not for all pets. Here are some safety tips from Friends of Animal Care & Control to help make you and your pet’s Halloween safe and stress-free:
- Make sure your animals are safely indoors for Halloween. You don’t want pranksters teasing, scaring or harming dogs and cats that are kept in front yards or wandering the streets Halloween night.
- If possible, keep your pets in a spare bedroom for the evening. Dogs and cats can quickly dart out the door unnoticed and even the calmest dog may be scared by costumed visitors which could result in a bite.
- Keep your pets away from Halloween candy. Chocolate can be toxic and cellophane or tin foil wrappings could get caught in your pet’s digestive tract, causing illness or even death.
- Watch your pet around jack-o-lanterns. Curious cats may try to play with the flickering flame and a rambunctious pup could accidentally knock over the Halloween pumpkin.
- Always supervise your pet while in costume.
Do you have other fun ideas or tips to treat your pet to a great Halloween? Share them here!
We have exciting news to share about a delicious offer now available in the Bakery Department at Price Chopper! We are pleased to present Central Market Classics Decadent Desserts, available exclusively at Price Chopper.
Each of these desserts was inspired and created by our own associates. A team of seven cake decorators, from bakery departments throughout our stores, worked for months developing these recipes. They started with customer feedback on our existing program and built upon the customer’s likes and special requests. They combined these comments with the most popular dessert specialties and added twists to simple classics to ensure that we offer a selection of perfect desserts for any occasion. And in keeping with our tradition of searching the world to find unique items and flavors, we are proud to put the Central Market Classics name on these delicious desserts.
The Central Market Classics Decadent Dessert offer will include 15 varieties of unique cakes available in both 5″ and 8″ sizes. With flavors like Tiramisu, Cannoli Dream, Lemon Berry Bliss, Mocha Madness, Tres Leches, For the Love of Peanut Butter and Coconut Carrot, there is something appealing to everyone. We also have fresh fruit tarts, peanut butter pie and an array of delightful single serve desserts including: petite cheesecakes, éclairs, crullers and delectably topped brownies. Just wait until you try our decadent “cake in a cup,” it’s our version of the traditional cupcake; a treat so big, it’s like having a slice of cake in a cup!
Stop by the Bakery at Price Chopper to pick up a copy of our FREE brochure that describes each of these desserts in detail. And while you’re there ask for a FREE sample of any of the desserts in the case so you’ll know which one to pick for your next “classic” celebration!
We have exciting news to share about a delicious offer now available in the Bakery Department at Price Chopper! We are pleased to present Central Market Classics Decadent Desserts, available exclusively at Price Chopper.
Each of these desserts was inspired and created by our own associates. A team of seven cake decorators, from bakery departments throughout our stores, worked for months developing these recipes. They started with customer feedback on our existing program and built upon the customer’s likes and special requests. They combined these comments with the most popular dessert specialties and added twists to simple classics to ensure that we offer a selection of perfect desserts for any occasion. And in keeping with our tradition of searching the world to find unique items and flavors, we are proud to put the Central Market Classics name on these delicious desserts.
The Central Market Classics Decadent Dessert offer will include 15 varieties of unique cakes available in both 5″ and 8″ sizes. With flavors like Tiramisu, Cannoli Dream, Lemon Berry Bliss, Mocha Madness, Tres Leches, For the Love of Peanut Butter and Coconut Carrot, there is something appealing to everyone. We also have fresh fruit tarts, peanut butter pie and an array of delightful single serve desserts including: petite cheesecakes, éclairs, crullers and delectably topped brownies. Just wait until you try our decadent “cake in a cup,” it’s our version of the traditional cupcake; a treat so big, it’s like having a slice of cake in a cup!
Stop by the Bakery at Price Chopper to pick up a copy of our FREE brochure that describes each of these desserts in detail. And while you’re there ask for a FREE sample of any of the desserts in the case so you’ll know which one to pick for your next “classic” celebration!
Maureen Murphy, Price Chopper's Manager of Consumer Trends, Nutrition and Lifestyles wants you to dust off your crock pot!
For those of you who are already crock pot fans we encourage you to enter our Crock Pot Recipe Contest. Enter your favorite crock pot recipe by e-mailing photos@pricechopper.com for a chance to win a Mega Meat Saving Pack and a Price Chopper Gift Card valued at $100.
Think of all the wonderful meals you could treat family and friends to with that prize! Read the official rules here.Maureen Murphy, Price Chopper's Manager of Consumer Trends, Nutrition and Lifestyles wants you to dust off your crock pot!
For those of you who are already crock pot fans we encourage you to enter our Crock Pot Recipe Contest. Enter your favorite crock pot recipe by e-mailing photos@pricechopper.com for a chance to win a Mega Meat Saving Pack and a Price Chopper Gift Card valued at $100.
Think of all the wonderful meals you could treat family and friends to with that prize! Read the official rules here.Are you looking to make a difference in your local community? Price Chopper and Pepsi are proud to announce that we have some very exciting news! We know that times are tough right now and we want to help our local communities.
Today kicks off the Price Chopper and Pepsi Refresh Project! Together, we are providing up to $30,000 to help fund projects in your neighborhood.
Starting today until noon on September 28th, tell us your idea for improving your neighborhood. The first 300 eligible ideas that are submitted will be reviewed and judged. The top 15 ideas will receive $2,000 each in funding. Don’t forget to come back on October 26th to see which 15 ideas will receive funding.
Check out www.pricechopper.refresheverything.com to learn everything you need to know about this program. We also encourage you to check out Pepsi’s national campaign to “Do Good” at www.refresheverything.com.
Spread the word: Share the Price Chopper and Pepsi Refresh Project with your friends.
