Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!
December 25th, Christmas Day is also the first night of Hanukkah-
This year, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Day, marking a significant overlap that has not occurred in nearly two decades. Over the past century, this rare alignment has happened only four other times, with the last occurrence in 2005, and previously in 1959, 1921, and 1910. The difference in calendars explains the overlap; the Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar, identifies months based on the moon’s phases, resulting in a calendar year that is shorter than the typical Gregorian calendar used widely in the Western world. As such, Hanukkah, beginning at sundown, falls on a day that is typically reserved for Christmas festivities, creating a unique moment for those who celebrate both holidays.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Hanukkah, also known as the Celebration of Lights, is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC following its liberation by Jewish fighters from foreign occupation. The holiday is observed through various traditions, including lighting the menorah, which holds nine candles, one for each night of the holiday and an additional candle used to light the others. Families gather to celebrate with special prayers, games, and traditional foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot. Hanukkah serves as a reminder of resilience and the enduring spirit of faith within the Jewish community.
Above left: Last year’s Menorah lighting celebration at the Pequot library in Fairfield, hosted by Chabad of Westport, Chabd of Fairfield and the Pequot library. This year the event will take place on Monday, December 30th at 4:30 PM at the Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport. There will be music by DJ Marv and of course latkes and donuts. All are welcome. Visit Pequot Menorah Lighting for more info.
Above right: The Lessons & Carols event at Christ & Holy Trinity church in Westport on Sunday, December 15th. To see our coverage visit: CH&T Lessons & Carols. The church hosted their annual Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Christ & Holy Trinity Festival Of Lessons & Carols Celebrates Christmas
The 21st annual Festival took place on Sunday at Westport's Christ & Holy Trinity Church.This event celebrating the birth of Jesus has the sanctuary filled to capacity each year as the choir of C&HT performs traditional popular Christmas carols and religious songs along with readings from scripture.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The event began when the choir entered the church by candlelight singing "Once in royal David's city", introduced by a boy chorister and accompanied by organist Jonathan Vaughan. As the service progressed, young choristers as well as adult singers were featured in several pieces, and cellist Cheryl Labrecque accompanied the choir in "Carol of the Magi" by John Rutter.
The lessons, which are readings from the Holy Bible from the books of Genesis, Isaiah, Luke, Matthew, and John were each read by a different member of the church, choir and community, including Connecticut State Senator Ceci Maher.
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Each lesson was followed by a carol sung by the 32-voice intergenerational choir, or a hymn sung by the congregation. All of the music sung, which spanned several centuries, was related to the biblical texts which preceded them, so some lyrics may have a more sacred connotation than the secular versions frequently heard. The tradition of Lessons & Carols dates back to the Church Of England in 1880. A special broadcast of the Festival from King's College, Cambridge, England will be aired by WSHU Public Radio at 91.1 FM on Christmas morning at 10:00 AM.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
On Christmas Eve at 3:00 CHT Church will present The Christmas Crèche, the birth of Jesus as told in story, movement and song headlined by Broadway star Kelli O'Hara, seven-time Tony nominee and winner of the 2015 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The sanctuary was filled for this special event. After the service, Santa directed guests downstairs to Branford Hall for refreshments and a wonderful array of homemade appetizers and delicious desserts.
The Season Of Lights Reminds Us Of Better Days To Come
The Christmas tree here is located on Held Lake on Weston Rd. in Weston, and has been done every year for many years by one of the homeowners and is something we always look forward to seeing during the Season Of Lights.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
The Westport area is beautiful any time of year, but the holidays bring us a special beauty thanks to the hard work and creative of those around us. Known as the Season of Lights, the holidays of Christmas and Chanukah is a time for connecting with family and friends, and the light displays around us help to share the feelings of warmth and hope and the promise of even better days ahead. Whether it is a Christmas tree or a Menorah, these symbols can inspire us and remind us of just how lucky we are.
This Weston Rd. home has also taken advantage of the reflections in the pond to create even more magic with the three reindeer and a variety of whimsical creatures.
Perhaps the largest and most elaborate holiday display in our area is on Weston Rd. in Westport, with a multitude of glowing figures and beautifully lighted trees.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
Downtown Westport's Sparkling Holiday Glow
The benches in front of Savvy & Grace will likely be a place to pause for a moment, especially for tonight's Holiday Stroll which begins at 5:00PM
We all recognize the beauty that is Downtown Westport all year long. During the holidays, our merchants add an extra level of beauty with brilliant lights and festive decorations, making downtown even more special for the holiday shopping season. From London's on Church Street (above left and below), to Anthropologie & Co. in Main Street's iconic former YMCA building (center) to Serena & Lily on Elm Street (right), Downtown Westport’s sparkle creates a most inviting ambience for shoppers and diners making the most of their holiday season.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.