Well, the holidays are here and our children are out of school for two short and precious weeks. So, what to do with all that time?  How about taking time to focus on the season?  We all know it's Christmas, Hannukah or what ever holiday you and your family may celebrate.  But do our children really know all about the season itself.  For instance, do your children know the sotry of the virgin birth?  Do they really understand the importance of Jesus' life and the celebration of his birthday.  Help them to understand what other stories and legends have been born as a result of people and their having stood firm in their faith.  As an example, do they know the legend of the candy cane.  Or why do we celebrate Hannukah, and why is it called the festival of lights?

Here is the Legend of the Candy Cane:

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith.  He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God. 

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.  But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Why not make this a real family affair.  With your children, make up a batch of sugar cookie dough.  Divide dough in half and color one half of the dough with red food coloring.  Divide each half in half.

Roll out a quarter section of each color dough into long "snakes", as even in length and width as possible.

Gently pinch the two colors together at the top and twist.  Cut into four inch sections.  Bend each section into the shape of a candy cane.

Place on an cookie sheet and bake as directed.


While your cookies are cooling, print out the legend of the candy cane on white cardstock.  Cut out each legend and mount on red cardstock.  Using your anywhere punch, punch a hole in the corner and tie it to two cookies with a festive ribbon.  Give them to your guests that come to visit.   Better yet, visit a nursing home and give them to the shut ins.  (Be sure to check with the staff first to find out if there is anyone who can't eat the cookie!)  Give them to the folks in your church, give them to your classmates, teachers, club sponsors or anyone else you'd like to give a
smile of thanks to!

Hannukah ~ the Festival of Lights

Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights," starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. 

Nearly 2,200 years ago, the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to force Greek culture upon peoples in his territory. Jews in Judea—now Israel—were forbidden their most important religious practices as well as study of the Torah. Though they were terribly outnumbered, the Jewish people stood up to protect their community and their religion. Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and then his son Judah the Maccabee, the Jewish rebels became known as the Maccabees.

After three years of fighting, in the year 3597, or about 165 B.C.E., the Maccabees victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah.  Next they prepared the temple for rededication—in Hebrew, Hanukkah means "dedication." In the temple they found only enough purified oil to kindle the temple light for a single day. The light miraculously burned for eight days.

Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights," starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights.

The lighting of the menorah, is the most important Hanukkah tradition. A
menorah is a candlestand with nine holders. Typically, eight candles symbolizing the eight days of Hanukkah — are of the same height, with a taller one in the middle, the shamash ("servant"), which is used to light the others. Each night of Hanukkah, another candle is lit, with a special blessing.

The menorah symbolizes the oil burning in the temple. Some say it also celebrates the light of freedom won by the Maccabees for the Jewish people.

Why not make a menorrah with your youngsters.  Try this new twist on an older tradition.

You'll need:

eight miniature tea light holders
one votive candle holder
eight tea light candles
one votive candle
one pie tin
medium bag of rice
gel food coloring (your choice of color)


Instructions:

In a VERY large ziplock baggie pour in the rice and squeeze in some food coloring.  Zip the baggie shut and squeeze around until rice is colored.  Add coloring as necessary.  Spread out in a cookie sheet and back for 30 minutes at 250 degrees or until the coloring has "dried".

Fill pie tin with colored rice.  Position the tea light candle holders in a circle around the rim of the pie tin.  Place the votive holder in the center.

Encourage your children to study the story of the Jewish faith.  Show them the importance of the journey and invite them to share some of their important "successes" that help shape them with their friends.

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Regardless of your faith of choice, study your faith with your children.  Help them to understand why you believe what you believe, the journey in life your faith helps you travel and give them a good foundation on which to build their faith and their lives.  Remember ~ the family that prays together, stays together!