We had a late but lovely annual Hanukkah celebration with our cousins in January. While we missed the actual holidays, the sentiment and meaning were ever present. We light the candles, enjoyed the traditional latkes made by the Ferguson-Coughlin clan, matzo ball soap-made vegetarian style by the Davi-Coughlin clan, and of course gelt. We end the evening with some fun family games.
This tradition, started half way through the kids growing up years, has been a highlight for our family. Spiritual but not religious and culturally Jewish for sure, honoring at least some of the Jewish holy days, while incorporating a more modern, relevant twist has been an important and meaning tradition. This year, the adults opted to skip gifts for the kids. Ben is in college while Amara is a Senior, Theo a Junior and Havana a Sophomore in high school. They have more than they needed; a blessing for sure, and their teenage likes and dislikes are foreign to the parents. Spending time at the table, talking, sharing, catching up and honor the Hanukkah rituals felt like the gifts.
We hope to continue this tradition for some years to come but life has a way to twisting and turning but I remain hopeful that each winter that the girls will join with their cousins to light the candles.
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