Holiday Facts: Happy Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa

A look at some of the December holiday celebrations.

Hanukkah Events Throughout Twin Cities Friday

Hanukkah is underway.

Observing Hanukkah 2012 In Richfield

Celebrate the Festival of Lights in the area with fun events and delicious recipes.

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 8, and ends a week later on Sunday, Dec. 16. According to Chabad.org, Hanukkah starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev and lasts for eight days. For those of us who aren't attuned to the Jewish calendar, that translates to sundown on Saturday, Dec. 8.  While Richfield isn't home to any Jewish temples, here's a look at some of the events happening nearby: For additional events happening around the Twin Cities, check out the community calendars on jewishminnesota.org or tcjewfolk.com. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the story of the Maccabean Revolt against Syrian rulers in present day Israel 2,300 years ago. The Maccabees wanted to rededicate …

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December Full of Special Celebration Days: Holiday Countdown

You might be surprised what other celebratory days fall within December.

Christmas gets most of the press this time of year, but December is a month full of religious and secular festivals and holidays, along with some wild and wacky days as well. Here’s a reminder of the major holidays this month, along with a collection of the most bizarre holidays gleaned from the corners of the Internet. We can’t vouch for the authenticity of some of these lesser known observances, but if you need a moment to forget the stress that sometimes comes with the major holidays, there’s got to be a few here to make you smile. Forget the 12 Days of Christmas. Here’s a whole month of ways to celebrate: What days will you celebrate? Tell us in the comments section below. Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | …

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Caitlin Burgess

9:47 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012

I know! I personally liked "Bathtub Party Day." LOL   more ›

12 Days of Hannukwanzaamas

Jewish Law

How significant is Hanukkah to Jewish religion?

According to Jewish law, Hanukkah is one of the less important Jewish holidays. True or false? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.

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Caitlin Burgess

5:01 pm on Thursday, December 29, 2011

Thanks for the background Earl. And the answer is: True.   more ›

12 Days of Hannukwanzaamas

The Colors of Kwanzaa

Do you know what the colors of the holiday represent?

The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. Black represents the people, while red represents their struggle. What does the green stand for? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. We'll post the correct answer later in the day.

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12 Days of Hannukwanzaamas

The Kwanzaa Tradition

How much do you know about one of the newest holiday celebrations?

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University-Long Beach. The name "Kwanzaa" is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits" in what language? Editor's Note: Select your answer in the poll below and tell us how you know the answer in the comments section. The answer will be posted later in the day.

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Caitlin Burgess

12:27 pm on Sunday, December 25, 2011

The correct answer is Swahili.   more ›

Holiday Weekend Hours for Richfield Businesses, Community Resources

Want to know what's open this weekend?

The following is a list of hours for various Richfield businesses and community resources during the Christmas holiday weekend: Regular Hours Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Closed Dec. 24-26 Special Hours

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