Now that it's Channukah I demand a steady supply of doughnuts and fried latkes. Perhaps I will go buy a vaunted Top Pot Raspberry Bismark a little later this morning. As, a Bismark: Now there's a good, Jewish name...
What's this? Why is Captain Secular even talking about a religious holiday commemorating improbable miracles? Well, I could take the cheap way out and claim that I just like the presents, food, and song...which would be true! But I also enjoy the "holiday season" atmosphere around this time of year. There are so many goodies. You get an appetizer with Halloween, and then a parade of cheer with Thanksgiving, Channukah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and New Year. (I've never actually commemorated Kwanzaa or seen anyone else commemorate it, either, but add it to the list if you like!) It's a time of the year when cities glow bright on long nights, the skies open up with their precious water, white winds blow, and people pay just a little more attention to the world thanks to the edginess of the chill in the air. My hope is that someday we'll decide as a people to have this "holiday spirit" all year long. (Of course, if that were to happen, then the holiday season would become even better...so...double win?)
Obviously it's not about the religion for me. I do know the story of the Maccabees, and of all the other holidays I mentioned. I am a firm proponent of the "de-sacramentation" of holidays, purifying and elevating their other qualities for modern enjoyment. Hence the Raspberry Bismark rather than Shacharit.
