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Ripon Messy Church learns all about Hanukkah

One of our Ripon churches has been doing Messy Church to learn all about Hanukkah, as the festival starts this week.

Edith, of St Oswald's Horton-in-Ribblesdale, wore Horton's priestly hat to learn about the Jewish festival of light.

With the help of a homemade menorah - or Hanukiyah - and a 'Big Book', the children at St Oswald's Messy Church heard that the festival begins this year on Thursday, December 7 and lasts for eight days.

A coloured candle is lit every day and placed in a window to remember the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

Messy Church saw Hanukkah cards coloured and posted out to parishioners, as well as Christmas cards and wreath-making.

The Revd Stephen Dawson said: “For English speakers Hanukkah is also known for confusion over the spelling of its name!

“Should it be Chanukah?

“The answer is that both are correct.

“Hanukkah is the most widely used spelling, whilst Chanukah is more traditional.

“The 'ch' is pronounced as in loch.

“We learned that Christians are not the only ones to light candles in times of darkness and fear.”

First published on: 5th December 2023
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