2009 will be a Happy New Year

We are getting ready to open our online art contest for our 2009 Charity Calendar.

December 24 and 25

Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Holidays, Happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanzaa (tomorrow). We hope you will have a peaceful time.

December 22 window – A Menorah for first night of Hanukah

Happy Hanukah !!! Tonight the first candle is lit on the Menorah to celebrate the beginning of Hanukah. On Holiday TV we went to visit a local Menorah lighting here in Santa Barbara. Read more information about the meaning of the Menorah below the video.

One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in Exodus 25:31-40.

It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be “a light unto the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit.”

The lamp stand in today’s synagogues, called the ner tamid (lit. the continual lamp; usually translated as the eternal flame), symbolizes the menorah.

The nine-branched menorah used on Chanukah is commonly patterned after this menorah, because Chanukah commemorates the miracle that a day’s worth of oil for this menorah lasted eight days.

The menorah in the First and Second Temples had seven branches. After the Temples were destroyed, a tradition developed not to duplicate anything from the Temple and therefore menorah’s no longer had seven branches. The use of six-branched menoras became popular, but, in modern times, some rabbis have gone back to the seven-branched menoras, arguing that they are not the same as those used in the Temple because today’s are electrified.

December 21 window – A Shooting Star

A shooting Star was today’s picture – and a beautiful event that we can see in the winter night sky if we just look carefully. In our Holiday TV episode we have a wonderful guest, Rey Villalobos from the Coral Sea.

December 20 window – Candy Canes

The candy canes in today’s window represents a huge part of American Christmas tradition. You can read some more about the history of candy canes:

A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint, grape, or cinnamon (also known respectively as a peppermint stick or cinnamon stick); however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and may be decorated with stripes of different colors and thicknesses. The candy cane is a traditional candy surrounding the Christmas holiday in North America, although it is possible to find them throughout the year.

The candy cane was originally a straight, hard, and all-white candy stick invented by French priests in the early 1400s. The cane shape is traditionally credited to a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who, legend has it, in 1670 bent straight candy sticks into canes to represent a shepherd’s staff, and gave them to children at church services. Another theory is that, as people decorated their Yule trees with food, the bent candy cane was invented as a functional solution. Candy with red stripes first appeared in the early 1900s.Postcards before 1900s show only white colored candy canes.

December 19 window – Kids Sledding

Today is the picture of kids sleadding and while it is cold inside, we have visited Boris Cake Bakery again and he is making a traditional Mexican Christmas Cake called:

December 18 window – A Christmas tree ornament

Jose Fuentes, Owner of Boris Cake Bakery makes Tamales

Part 1

Part 2

December 16 window – Gingerbread People

Solvang Bakery Inc – www.solvangbakery.com
460 Alisal Rd
Solvang, CA 93463
805.688.4939

December 15 window – Filled hanging stocking

Stay tuned for episode 15 – we will have it up later today. The episode is pretty long so we have to split it into two parts.

December 10 window – Julehjerte, Danish Christmas woven paper heart

The Danish woven paper heart is a 100% original Danish tradition and in Scandinavia “julehjerter” have a romantic history. The Danish fairytale writer, Hans Christian Andersen, created the very first woven heart in the mid 1800s. This original woven heart still exists today, exhibited in its home country for all to see; reminding us of the power of love.

Families in Scandinavia would sit down and weave these lovely paper hearts in the days leading up to Christmas. The woven hearts would then be hung up on their Christmas trees, with some bearing gifts of candies or cookies to surprise their children.

This woven heart is easily made by cutting two patterns, one from red and one from white. The pattern is folded in half and cut up the center in three places.
Hold one pattern in each hand. Carefully weave the first loop of the piece in your right hand, under and over the piece in your left hand. Weave each of the loops in the same way.
It will look like a checkerboard. Staple a handle to the top of the woven heart and fill with goodies.