Friday, December 14, 2012
While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.
Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.
Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend. Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. To submit an event in the Patch events calendar, click on “Events” at the top of the page and then click on the green "Add an event" button on the right side of the page. Holiday Tour Breakfast with Santa Christmas Bazaar & Luncheon Starry Night Gala Country Breakfast Buffet Country Holiday Crafts Kid's Day of Play Sunday Singles Over 21 Dance Free Concert - Fugitive Brass Quintet
Friday, December 7, 2012
This Hampstead family gets into the spirit of the holidays with music, lights and a whole lot of extension cords.
Sitting in front of the Wende House during the holidays is like watching fireworks in July. It's festive and spectacular and entertaining and touching all at the same time. Flo Wende said that for her the holidays are all about family. Last year, her family embarked on a colorful project with a goal of inspiring other families to spend time together. Wende, her husband Lance and son Kyle love to drive around and look at holiday lights. A couple years ago while doing just that, Wende said they saw a house in Frederick County that had the lights set to music. She said they fell in love with it and were inspired to try it at their home. Finally last year the Wende family made the dream a reality. "It took us a couple years, we knew it would …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Planning to get your tree this weekend? Check out one of these local farms.
The following list was compiled using information from the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Carroll County Department of Tourism. It is recommended that you call the farm prior to visiting. Breezy Trees Farm www.breezytrees.com 2198 Sams Creek Road Taylorsville, MD 21157 Directions: Located in Taylorsville, MD, we are 10 minutes south of Westminster, 10 minutes north of Mt.Airy, 10 minutes west of Eldersbury/Sykesville. Visit our website for complete directions. 410-875-0665 Davidson Christmas Tree Farm http://www.davidsonchristmastreefarm.com 1105 Emory Church Road Upperco, MD 21155 Directions: From I-695, take 795 North to Route 140. Follow to Route 91 (Emory Road); turn right, go 3 miles, then turn left on Emory Church Road. …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.
Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend. Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. A Main Street Christmas Shiloh Pottery Christmas Studio Show Fundraiser for Westminster Rescue Mission Performance at Birdies Café: Racing Rain A Season to Remember St. John 59th Annual Christmas Bazaar 15th Annual, Festival of Wreaths Big Band Merry Christmas concert Holiday Lights, Winter Open House, & Pictures with Santa Tea & Crumpets with Mrs. Claus
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Have you started Christmas shopping yet?
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Saturday, November 10, 2012
By CHRIS LEYDEN Capital News Service Christmas came to Target just three weeks after Labor Day this year, in what has become a new standard for retailers of pushing the winter holiday to the brink of summer. Experts call it 'Christmas Creep,' a term coined to describe how retailers are taking their biggest season of the year, and pushing it on customers earlier and earlier. And the big news for holiday shopaholics, is that experts don't see this trend stopping anytime soon. According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 41.4 percent of Americans started holiday shopping before Halloween, a statistic the organization has seen consistently for the past 10 years. Emily Knaus, store manager for the Frederick Target, said the early …
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The NORAD Santa Tracker offers games and videos each day leading up to Christmas.
Anxious for Christmas or know some young ones who are? Starting today, a special website launches just for the holiday season, bringing games and videos leading up to Christmas Eve. On Dec. 24, the NORAD Santa Tracker starts tracking Santa's journey, a special treat for believers young and old. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than 715,600 "likes." Colonel Harry Shoup, Director of Operations at the time, received …
Saturday, November 26, 2011
You don't have to travel far to cut a fresh tree in the Sykesville and Eldersburg area, but if you want to travel, there's options for that too.
Thanksgiving cooking is over and stores have closed down from Black Friday shopping…so what’s next? For many in Carroll County that means it’s time to cut down your Christmas Tree. Local tree farms open this weekend and we have put together a list of tree farms nearby and information on what you can find at each. For more information and a complete list of places to go, visit the county’s brochure on tree farms here. Carroll County Breezy Trees Farm Information: The Athey Family 2198 Sams Creek Road Taylorsville, MD 21157 Dates and times: November 26 – December 18, Saturday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Trees and sizes: Douglas Fir 6-12’ and Fraser Fir 6’-10’ Features: Free use of saws. Free tree baling and restrooms available. Directions: …
Gregg Roberts
4:11 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012
It drives me crazy when people keep repeating the line ''Hanukkah is a minor holiday.'' In Israel children have off all week for Hanukkah. Orthodox Jewish schools in Baltimore have a 4 day weekend. Hanukkah is other then Purim the only holiday that traditionally doesn't have restrictions on music, travel etc. and is the last holiday historically and the only one to have happened in Israel. No … more ›