Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish holiday, often coincides with the school calendar at Granite Bay High School, beginning Dec. 14 and ending Dec. 22, while winter breaks begin Dec. 20.
Unlike holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, which align with school breaks, Hanukkah is not accommodated by the school holidays. Other holidays, including Hanukkah, are less accommodated unless they coincide with time off.
“[If Hanukkah wasn’t during school], we would probably have more family gatherings with extended family like my grandparents and cousins too,” an anonymous junior at GBHS said.
Unlike Christmas, Hanukkah’s dates change each year because it follows the lunar calendar.
“Since all of our holidays move around every year, Hanukkah does too,” Miriam Frank, a GBHS junior, said. “It doesn’t really bug me because it has been this way my whole life. Also, because Hanukkah lasts eight days instead of just one or two, there is a lot more time to celebrate each night.”
The holiday is primarily celebrated in the evenings, allowing students to enjoy traditions while keeping up with schoolwork. This year, the first six days of Hanukkah fall during the last week of school, with only the last two days of the holiday aligning with winter break.
“Luckily, lighting candles, opening presents and eating dinner with my family doesn’t take
very long. Hanukkah doesn’t really affect my studying time!” Frank said.
Even when most of Hanukkah occurs during school, the celebrations remain joyful.
“Lighting the menorah with my family is one of my favorite traditions,” an anonymous junior at GBHS said.
Students also enjoy traditional Hanukkah foods which are often fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the menorah oil.
“My favorite tradition is making holiday cookies and latkes with my mom,” Frank said.
Beyond family gatherings and food, Hanukkah is also a time for community. Frank shared her experience at social gatherings. She emphasized that these foods, along with games like dreidel, help students connect with their heritage while celebrating.
“I like when our community comes together, whether it’s a menorah lighting or helping out with a Hanukkah event at a local synagogue. It really makes the holiday feel special,” Frank said.
Hanukkah, just like Christmas, has its own magic within its celebrations.
“The miracle of Hanukkah is that the oil for the lamp, which was being used to light the destroyed temple while they rebuilt, was only enough to last a day, and then magically it lasted for eight while more oil was being procured. I think it’s an example of how God is with us even in our times of hardship, and I find that quite beautiful,” Frank said.
