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mandag den 6. december 2021

Poetry Monday :: Hanukkah -- Updated

If you want to read some better  poetry,  Diane - who has taken over the hosting of  this challenge - and Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings - who also supplies us with topics - are writing wonderful, funny, thought-provoking, ingenious and honestly well written verse. Go and read.

  Karen of Baking in a Tornado has joined us in this crazy pursuit, and promises us at least a poem a month - may  we hope for more!
  SpikesBestMate often publishes a nice verse in the comments.

  Jenny at Procrastinating Donkey who has been a faithful participant, is slowly returning to blogging after her husband's passing from this world. Let's continue to send warm thoughts, good energy, and lots of prayers her way. And dare we hope that she will join Poetry Monday again.


-- 🕯 --

  As it's not yet Christmas, I decided to tackle Hanukkah. I knew next to nothing, so reading the relevant articles on Wikipedia and elsewhere was necessary to compose this short poem. I hope I succeeded in showing a bit of what Hanukkah is.
  I said in the comments, that I do not know any Jews, because I do not live in a big city (Copenhagen). That requires an explanation, I think.
  From the reformation until 1849 all Danes were by law Lutheran. The law required all non-Lutherans to leave the country. The exceptions were foreign diplomats, a Jewish community in Copenhagen, a township for the Moravian Brethren in Jutland, and the town Fredericia (in Jutland) a free city, where everyone could stay.
  After the 1849 religion freedom by law. Jews still stayed in Copenhagen (and Fredericia), I think because of the walking to the synagogue thing, whereas Catholics, Methodists, Muslims, and other spread out - and today it's still this way. 



Come let’s celebrate.
A miracle in Jerusalem!
An end to deprivation,
lack and woe.

Hannukah - fest of faith and light 
Menorah’s oil was burning bright
For longer than it ought to
One candle first then two, then three,
Until all 8 are burning free.
For every day the wonder grew.

- - - - -

Coming up:

Ice Cream (December 13)
Music (December 20)
Fruitcake (December 27)
Sleep (January 3)
Peculiar People (January 10)
Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions(January 17)
Opposite Day (January 24)
Typo Day (January 31) Celebrate those funny (autocorrect) mistakes.

13 kommentarer:

  1. You are good at poetry, I like this one.
    I don't know much about Hannukkah, but I like the tradition of the burning candles.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Thank you, River. I did not know anything either - exept for "something with candles" The Jewish community in Denmark are mainly based in Copenhagen and two or three other cities from historical reasons, so it's not a thing I meet in my everyday life.

      Slet
  2. Hannukhah can be spelt in so many ways - but I do like your poem. Despite my Jewish father we never celebrated it.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Yes it seems that Hebrew, like Russian, Chinese, Arabic and so on are written mostly as you like it - and different from language to language - as long as you pronounce it (mostly) right as a result of the transliteration ;) I can't even keep to one spelling ;)
      Thank you. I never actually met anyone celebrating Hanukkah.

      Slet
  3. There really is an "opposite day"?! The Simpsons have an episode on that.
    Wow, today I´ll see if I can have a look at Henry and give him your greetings.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Yes, there is an Opposite day. I have been celebrating on and off for many years. It's healthy to have your habits turned topsy-turvy now and then :D
      Yes, please greet Henry!

      Slet
  4. You definitely succeeded in showing what Hanukkah is about. You captured well the miracle that we celebrate.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. I actually was afraid of publishing this, as I know next to nothing about Jews and their faith, so thanks for the thumbs up!

      Slet
  5. Beautifully done, Charlotte! 'Fest of faith and light' is PERFECT!

    SvarSlet
  6. What a wonderful tribute to Hanukkah! Over the years, i've had Jewish friends explain Hannukah to me, it's a beautiful celebration of G-d's miraculous ways.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Thanks. I do not have any Jewish friends, as we live far from the big cities.

      Slet

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