Happy holidays to all!

This time of year everyone can celebrate the hope, joy and peace reflected in all the holidays of the season.

First comes Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. The movable feast starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which coincides with late November-late December on the secular calendar. This year Hanukkah begins the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, and ends the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 28.

In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means “dedication” commemorating the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 BCE. Jewish troops were determined to purify the Temple by burning ritual oil in the Temple’s menorah for eight days. But to their dismay, they discovered that there was only one day's worth of oil left in the Temple. They lit the menorah anyway and to their surprise the small amount of oil lasted the full eight days.

This is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil that is celebrated every year when Jews light a special menorah known as a hanukkiyah for eight days. One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, two on the second, and so on, until eight candles are lit.

The winter solstice also is this week for us here. After the winter solstice, the days will get longer and we will celebrate the light. In 2011, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will occur at 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 22. Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2012.

And guess who lives at the North Pole. Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and simply "Santa," is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric aspects who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift-giver St. Nicholas.

Santa Claus generally is depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films.

According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight, plus Rudolph) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and to deliver presents, including toys and candy, to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.

Christmas, the second-greatest feast day in the Christian calendar (after Easter Sunday), celebrates the Nativity, or birth, of Jesus Christ. Christmas Day always is on Dec. 25, this year on Sunday. Celebrations include church services with holiday music recalling the virgin birth of God's Son in a lowly stable some 2,000 years ago, promising peace on earth and good will to all mankind.

Then comes Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday honoring African culture and traditions. It falls between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 each year. Maulana Karenga, an African-American leader, proposed this observance and it was first celebrated between December 1966 and January 1967.

Kwanzaa honors the culture and traditions of people of African origin. The week of celebrations ends with a feast and the exchange of gifts. During the celebrations, candles are lit and libations are poured. A libation is the name given to a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. During Kwanzaa, a wooden unity cup is used to pour the libations. Ceremonies often include performance of music and drumming, a reflection on the Pan-African colors of red, green and black and a discussion of some aspect of African history.

Finally, Saturday, Dec. 31, is New Year's Eve, the last day of 2011, followed by Jan. 1, New Year's Day, the first day of 2012. Happy New Year!

Check out the winter season in Recorder Community Newspapers and their 60+ blogs online right here at newjerseyhills.com. Any individual or group representative who would like to join our bloggers may e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this simple, free, 21st century communication tool. Young people, high school age and older, are especially welcome. All you need is an e-mail and Internet connection device.

Day of Infamy

(December 7, 2011) Today is the 70th anniversary of Japan's surprise bombing of U.S. forces in Pearl Harbor which jolted the United States out of isolationism and into World War II. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded. The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four more. It also damaged or sank three cruisers, three destroyers, one mine layer and damaged 188 aircraft.

The nation was changed forever on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in a speech to Congress, described that day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor as "a date which will live in infamy."

The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II fighting with the Allies including France and England against the Axis powers including Germany. Americans came together in their common cause.

Today, Pearl Harbor survivors and other World War II veterans remember their service and sacrifice.

Check Recorder Community Newspapers for details in the news and the blogs online at newjerseyhills.com. Any individual or group representative interested in joining the 60+ bloggers may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers for more information on this 21st century communication tool.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(November 23, 2011) "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go," but not this year. Tomorrow Grandma and Grandpa are going over the river and through the woods to their oldest daughter's house. And they're bringing with them the roasted turkey with stuffing and gravy for the holiday feast. It will be quite a treat to enjoy the family fun at someone else's home this Thanksgiving Day.

We are thankful this year for so much from a new grandson to resolved health issues. It will be good to relax and ponder them all on Thanksgiving Day.

Enjoy your holiday bird, family and friends and a blessed day.

On a business note, we at Recorder Community Newspapers as well as our thousands of local readers are especially thankful for all the faithful bloggers sharing themselves and their groups at our newpapers' website - newjerseyhills.com. They bring a unique perspective to the site.

Any community individual or group representative interested in joining the growing group of 60+ bloggers is welcome to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com. Blogging is free. The process is simple. All you need is an e-mail address and Internet connection.

11-11-11

(November 11, 2011) Today is Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. The document was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Veterans Day is a federal legal holiday honoring America's veterans with ceremonies and speeches in many communities. Canadians observe Remembrance Day today to honor their war veterans.

Today also is a date curiosity: 11-11-11. There will be one more in our lifetime, next year: 12-12-12.

Check Recorder Community Newspapers for details in the news and the blogs online at newjerseyhills.com. Any individual or group representative interested in joining the 60+ bloggers may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers for more information on this 21st century communication tool.

Election Day today

(November 8, 2011) Today, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, is Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the various districts. Registered voters will choose members of the N.J. General Assembly, county and local officials. They also will vote on local questions as well as a state constitutional amendment allowing wagering on sports events at Atlantic City casinos and at horse racetracks.

This Election Day has been overshadowed by the widespread power outages due to the freak nor'easter that hit the Northeast on Oct. 29. Although the heavy snow melted quickly, its aftermath of fallen trees on power lines caused major problems. Schools and shops were closed, traffic disrupted for days. No electricity out in the country means no water, no heat, no phone, no lights, etc. Tree and utility workers from as far away as Alabama have been working long hours with local crews to repair the damage. Now that most folks in this area have their electric and phone service restored, they are busy with the cleanup of tree limbs and other debris, plus household chores like backed-up laundry.

But regardless, today we focus on our civic right to choose our leaders and rules. So VOTE. Details of local elections can be found in Recorder Community Newspapers right here online at newjerseyhills.com. Also some bloggers share political commentary. After the election, results will be posted here as well.

Anyone interested in joining the growing group of 60+ Recorder bloggers can contact me at (908) 832-7420 or panderson@recordernewspapers.com.

Time to fall back

(November 4, 2011) This weekend this part of the world returns to Eastern Standard Time. Specifically at 2 a.m. Sunday, the first one in November, daylight-saving time ends, according to federal law, except for those areas that exempt themselves. So before retiring Saturday be sure to set your clocks one hour BACK.

That will give you the hour you lost on the second Sunday in March when the clocks spring forward for daylight-saving time.

Happy Halloween

(October 31, 2011) Today is Halloween when costumed ghosts and goblins celebrate the frost on the pumpkin and enjoy "trick or treat" in their neighborhoods. This year the festivities may stay inside, even at home, because of this weekend's freak snowstorm. Many activities planned for Saturday and Sunday were canceled because of the weather and subsequent power, cable and telephone outages. Also, most area schools are closed today.

Today also, according to the United Nations, the world's population will hit 7 billion. Some nations are claiming to record that 7 billionth birth in their country.

Check out Recorder Community Newspapers online right here at newjerseyhills.com for details. Bloggers also are commenting here, if they have power, on current conditions. (A power generator is making it possible for me to use my computer for this blog.)

Anyone interested in joining the 60+ Recorder bloggers may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com. All you need is Internet access and e-mail for this free communication tool.