Mental Floss

HANUKKAH

Menorahs are a staple of this festive celebration.

Every winter, Jewish people around the world spend eight nights lighting candles, eating latkes, and spinning dreidels. But what’s Hanukkah really all about?

A dreidel and pile of chocolate gelt are a common sight during Hanukkah celebrations.

It’s often said the dreidel was a way Jewish people communicated their faith during ancient times of oppression. But the Hanukkah game is actually a lot more recent.

The origins of Hanukkah’s blue and white color scheme are in the Bible and 19th-century poetry.

In 1864, the Jewish poet Ludwig August Frankl named blue and white “the colors of Judah” in a poem not so surprisingly called “Judah’s Colours.”

It comes down to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court ruled that government entities can’t display nativity scenes on public property without including symbols of other faiths, but that hasn’t stopped some towns from trying.

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Discover new music daily with these scratch-off holiday playlists for Christmas and Hanukkah, available at Uncommon Goods.

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We’ve culled the internet to figure out what’s cool these days, and we found 16 items to suit any teen (and any price point).

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Stumped for holiday party decorating ideas? Scrambling for a thrilling centerpiece that you can light on fire? Look no further than these 10 tips from old-timey etiquette manuals.

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore in Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007).

Christmas is a time for joy, thankfulness, love … and, when it comes to Christmas carols, the occasional bout of cringe.

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Sometimes the holidays can make you relax and go "ahhh." Other times, "AHHHHHH."

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Facts about Hanukkah, including how to celebrate in space and where you can find a competitive dreidel game.

"The O.G." (Napkin Friends, Photo: Hilary Gorenstein)

They may not be the most traditional, but these creative latkes are more than worth your time this Hanukkah.

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Don't feel bad about selecting a gift that isn't surprising, novel, or unique.

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Soak up every bit of the holiday celebration while sticking to your budget.

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Swastika-patterned gift wrap doesn't always go over well. Who knew?