Hanukah's a festival of eight lights
You light one more candle every night
First the servant or helper, high or low
Which lights the others so they grow and glow
The old story tells of candles of oil
Pure oil for one night - the rest had been spoiled
That oil lasted eight nights, miracle, magic
Use oil, white wax, rainbows or electric
Eat olives and potatoes fried in oil
Carrot soup, chicken, baked or boiled
End - eat donuts with fruit coloured centres
A filling food, so warming for winters
Family and friends around the table
Take turns to spin the coloured dreidl
It letters spell, 'a big miracle ... here'
Diaspora tops say, .'.. miracle there'
Right through the night, the candles keep burning
The sun still shines bright, the world keeps turning
Winter solstice means the shortest day
Each day longer days are coming our way
Lets us take hope from the happy, bright lights
As each day the sun sends us more sunlight
Let's hope the new year means wars will end
Yesterday's foes make tomorrow's friends.
-ends-
23rd December 2022
copyright Angela Lansbury
Useful Websites
The most amazing collection of hanukiahs, from magnetic travelling sets with candle included, to giant ones for community centres, from traditional silver-plated or mother of pearl, to diy paint the wood, concrete, tree of life, pomegranate, amusing ones for family photos, princesses, dogs, cats, footballs and sports, transport such as a bicycle, an old fire engine and a plane.
