Category: Worldwise

What is The Winter Solstice?

The Winter Solstice falls on the 21^st December each year.  This is the 24 hour period during which we, in the Northern Hemisphere, will have the fewest hours of daylight of the whole year.  

During the winter months the Earth’s North Pole is pointing away from the Sun which is why it is colder in the Northern hemisphere.  In the Southern hemisphere it’s much warmer, making it their summertime.

So How Much Sunshine Can we Expect?

In London the Winter Solstice lasts for 7 hours 49 minutes and 41 seconds.  In the North of Lapland (Finland), they only get around four hours of daylight on the Solstice. Can you imagine being in the dark for nearly 20 hours!

How is the Winter Solstice Celebrated?

Certain cultures celebrate the Winter solstice. For example, many Pagans and Druids travel to Stonehenge in Wiltshire each year on the 21^st December.  Archaeologists believe the English Heritage site was constructed between 3000BC and 2000BC specifically to point towards the winter solstice sunrise.  The communities hold large celebrations on the day after the solstice to coincide with the sunrise.  They often wear traditional costume and welcome in the new sun.  

Yalda is an Iranian festival celebrated on the ‘longest and darkest night of the year,’ i.e. the night of the Northern Hermisphere’s winter solstice.  Every year, on December 21^st, Iranians celebrate the renewal of the sun with a big family get-together and all-night celebrations.

In Guatemala, those of Mayan heritage indulge in the ritual known as Palo Volador, or ‘flying pole dance’. Three men climb a 50-foot pole.  One man beats a drum and plays a flute.  The other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump.  If they land on their feet, it is believed that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer.  

How will you celebrate the shortest day of the year? With some munchables, of course!

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What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day period of celebration during which Jewish people commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This happened at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.

So What Exactly Happened?

Over 2,000 years ago, Jewish rituals had been banned by Syrian rule. Instead, Jews were instructed to pray to Greek Gods. A group of Jews called the Maccabees fought against this ruling and, after a three-year war, they won. 

Post-victory, they set about cleaning and repairing their temple, which had been destroyed during the revolt. They had enough oil to burn a candle in their oil lamp for one day, but miraculously it burnt for 8 days. Therefore, the festival of Hanukkah lasts eight days. 

How Do we Celebrate Today?

Each night families gather around their menorahs, which are nine branched candelabras – one candle for each of the eight days of the festivities and the middle candle to light the other eight. On the final night of Hanukkah, or Zot Hanukkah, all of the candles are lit.

During Hanukkah there is a custom of eating fried foods or food baked in oil (preferably olive oil) in commemoration of the miracle in the temple. Most popular foods are latkes or potato pancakes and sufganiyah or jam-filled donuts. Nowadays, Munchachos are the preferred snacks at the Munchquarters!

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Absolutely delicious.

If you are Jewish, we at Munchachos would like to wish you a joy-filled Hanukkah season. Chag Urim Sameach! 

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This week, on the fourth Thursday of November, it’s Thanksgiving, one of the biggest holidays in the American calendar. The Thanksgiving feast, is based on the harvest meal organised by the Pilgrims, who were some of the first to arrive in America in 1621. Nowadays, the day is marked with family, American football and lots and lots of FOOD! 

Turkey 

One of the most important parts of a Thanksgiving feast is the turkey. There is some confusion as to whether there was actually turkey at the first Thanksgiving but, as turkey is native to North America and, practically speaking, it’s a big bird and therefore can feed a large family, eating turkey remains a tradition! 

The president of the United States even carries out a ceremony at the White House every year at which he is presented with a live domestic turkey, who is then ‘pardoned.’ This turkey will then not be eaten at Thanksgiving dinner. 

Side Dishes 

Thanksgiving is known to be a day of elasticated waists! At most tables it’s very common to see copious numbers of side dishes to accompany the enormous turkey. Cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes (often served with marshmallows!), mac & cheese, corn, green beans and bread are typically served.

Scrumptious sweet potatoes and marshmallow. No marshmallows with the sweet potatoes in your Roasty Toasties! 

Pumpkin pie

Whilst this was also not included at the first Thanksgiving, as they wouldn’t have had the flour and butter to make pie crust, both Pilgrims and natives would have enjoyed eating pumpkins and adding milk, honey and spices and then roasting the mixture. This would have made a delicious sweet treat.

 

It all sounds very tasty to us! We wish our American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving for this Thursday and we hope they enjoy their time with their friend, families and Munchachos.

 

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