[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Livia

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown and lasts for eight nights. It always seems more special when it coincides with Christmas and we’re lucky to have my Grandmother with us this year, so we have the oldest and the newest members of my family together.

The family will gather around the menorah this afternoon as the sun goes down, and my Grandmother will sing the blessing in Hebrew: Blessed are you our God, who has given us life, sustained us and allowed us to meet here together for Hanukkah. As she does this, she will light the first of eight candles, each one representing the eight nights that Jews believe God enabled the temple lamp to blaze for eight nights when there was oil enough only for a few hours.

And after the Menorah is lit, we will sit, the whole family, and eat together. My husband isn’t Jewish, but he will join in with us in the same way I celebrate Christmas, because these festivals become important to us whether we have faith or not. They become important to us because they are the times we come together with friends and family and celebrate together. And this year Alex and I have more reason to celebrate than usual because it will be our beautiful son’s first Christmas and Hanukkah.
So my Christmas message to you all is a simple one: whether you’re religious or not, whether you believe in God or not, whether we get on or not… from my family to yours, I send to you good wishes for a very Happy Hanukkah, a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Liv xxx

Stunning darling, Happy Hanukkah to you and your family and all the best for Christmas and the New Year xxx