# Happy Hanukkah! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 25, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577 "2016-12-25T00:46:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/1 "2016-12-25T00:46:55Z")
Light the menorah, spin a dreidel, fry up some latkes and enjoy!! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/2 "2016-12-25T01:21:34Z")
Thanks. Recent genetic analysis shows that I’m 2.1% ashkenazi, so I’ll spend a proportional amount of time celebrating Hanukkah. However, since this is a recent discovery, I have 59 previous missed Hanukkah seasons to make up on celebrating for. Let’s see, 2.1% of 7 days is 8.67 days of dreidel spinning, eating gelt, lighting candles, before I can just spend about 3.5 hours each year at it. I’ve always enjoyed the rugelach though. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/3 "2016-12-25T03:49:36Z")
In view of the replies to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=777808) I’ve dusted off the menorahs I’ve inherited over the years and lit one of them up tonight. This also made me one of the people at the store this year to purchase both Christmas and Hanukkah items at the same visit. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/4 "2016-12-25T05:50:21Z")
> [@janis\_and\_c0](#): > > Light the menorah, spin a dreidel, fry up some latkes and enjoy!! Did you say fry? I love fried anything!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/5 "2016-12-25T15:21:32Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Thanks. Recent genetic analysis shows that I’m 2.1% ashkenazi, so I’ll spend a proportional amount of time celebrating Hanukkah. > > However, since this is a recent discovery, I have 59 previous missed Hanukkah seasons to make up on celebrating for. > > Let’s see, 2.1% of 7 days is 8.67 days of dreidel spinning, eating gelt, lighting candles, before I can just spend about 3.5 hours each year at it. > > I’ve always enjoyed the rugelach though. You eat gelt (money)? Probably you mean the chocolate coins. Enjoy! Although I haven’t had the testing, if I am less than 100% Ashkenazi, I would be astonished. We lit candles last night and will have latkes tonight. My wife just asked if I wanted them fried or baked. I am sure the latter are healthier, but hell, you live only once, so fried. We will also have some home-baked cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/6 "2016-12-25T15:25:25Z")
Thank you! You too! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/7 "2016-12-25T18:18:10Z")
Making latkes tonight. Made a ton of latkes for work a couple of weeks ago. I had to make them all at home and bring them. Starting in the early morning before the stores were open I thought I had enough supplies on hand but then it looked like I only had enough oil to make one batch. Miraculously though it lasted long enough to make 8 whole batches of latkes. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/8 "2016-12-25T18:59:40Z")
All the jelly donuts were gone at the grocery store, so we had to go with the plain glazed. There are more Jews around here than it seems. Anyone doing Chinese today? Happy Hanukkah! ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/9 "2016-12-25T19:41:04Z")
Happy Hanukkah to you too ! I might go buy a menorah Monday b/c I can’t find mime and I miss not lighting the candles. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/10 "2016-12-25T23:12:21Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > You eat gelt (money)? Probably you mean the chocolate coins. Enjoy! Although I haven’t had the testing, if I am less than 100% Ashkenazi, I would be astonished. Actually fairly common for Ashkenazi from the eastern end of their range (such as my family) to have a dose of Mongol thanks to the wacky antics of the Golden Horde and their cousins in the past. Just have to look at old photos of my grandmother’s generation to guess we’ve got Asian in my family no matter how the old folks nattered on about their purity. Just keep repeating to yourself “There are no pureblood humans. We are all mutts.” Also, given human proclivities, Jews tend to share genetic traits with the population surrounding their communities even as they still retain distinctive traits among themselves (like the Cohen Modal Haplotype). In other words, if you are in fact 100% Ashkenazi with absolutely no other admixture **I** would be astonished. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/11 "2016-12-26T03:23:16Z")
During Hanukkah a decade or so ago I wished a Jewish co-worker of mine a “Chappy Chanukkah”. She was offended by this. I know her pretty well and she is a fun-loving, open-minded woman and I said it in a happy, mildly jokey kind of way. I’ve wondered ever since then… is that an offensive thing to say? It was just a joke. Was it in poor taste? ETA: I am not Jewish, if that even should matter. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/12 "2016-12-26T03:25:32Z")
I think the answer to that is going to vary depending on which Jew you ask. Some of them have a wicked sense of humor and would laugh themselves silly over it (I’m thinking Mel Brooks might be one of those, or Adam Sandler who has mocked Jewish holidays from time to time) and others would be Horribly Offended. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/13 "2016-12-26T03:51:58Z")
I have had [this song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LslsgH3-UFU) stuck in my head all evening! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/14 "2016-12-26T16:24:39Z")
Yesterday my daughter asked me if I planned to get a menorah, now that I’ve discovered my jewish genetic heritage. I replied “Of course! Especially as a member of this menorah-ty group!” She hit me. Helpful tip: Take the foil off the chocolate coins before eating the gelt. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/15 "2016-12-26T19:52:07Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > During Hanukkah a decade or so ago I wished a Jewish co-worker of mine a “Chappy Chanukkah”. She was offended by this. I know her pretty well and she is a fun-loving, open-minded woman and I said it in a happy, mildly jokey kind of way. > > I’ve wondered ever since then… is that an offensive thing to say? It was just a joke. Was it in poor taste? > > ETA: I am not Jewish, if that even should matter. I think I’d be mildly offended. It’s not that funny, if that helps. “Happy challah-days,” now that’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/16 "2016-12-26T23:53:29Z")
So, what do you guys put on your latkes - applesauce or sour cream? I like them both, but I’ve been leaning more toward sour cream in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/17 "2016-12-27T00:39:21Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Yesterday my daughter asked me if I planned to get a menorah, now that I’ve discovered my jewish genetic heritage. I replied “Of course! Especially as a member of this menorah-ty group!” She hit me. > > Helpful tip: Take the foil off the chocolate coins before eating the gelt. :smack: If I had known I would have sent you one of my menorahs. I still could, it just won’t get there in time for this year’s Hanukkah. I have three. Can’t keep them all lit myself, and I think both I and the original owners wouldn’t mind someone else continuing to use them. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/18 "2016-12-27T02:20:32Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > So, what do you guys put on your latkes - applesauce or sour cream? I like them both, but I’ve been leaning more toward sour cream in recent years. I can go either way, but my wife and kids are all applesauce girls. My wife did make great latkes tonight - instead of grating the potatoes (or that minced potato abomination), she used a spiralizer which made yummy crisp latkes! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/19 "2016-12-27T03:48:02Z")
This is my 56th Hanukkah, and for the first time this year, i heard about donuts being a “traditional” food. So, how long has this been a “thing?” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577/20 "2016-12-27T10:12:54Z")
They’re actually closer to Berliners, being chewier than most American donuts, with no hole and a filling (traditionally jam, but I’ve seen everything). I think it’s an Israeli thing - according to Wikipedia, it’s a North African Jewish tradition adopted and adapted by European immigrants. Look for them - they’re delicious. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-hanukkah/775577.md?page=2)