Christmas and Hanukkah in Israel

Christmas in Israel generally coincides with Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light, which spreads a festive spirit across the land. The celebrations are about to begin. Hanukkah in Israel is widely celebrated and marked by many symbolic events and, of course, foods. The Festival of Light, Hanukkah is an eight day festival, a celebration of hope and freedom. Meanwhile, Christmas in Israel is is truly Christmas in the Holy Land. In the town of Bethlehem, magnificent services take place on Christmas Eve. Here are a few little quilts that remind us of the historical significance of Israel for both religions.

O Little Town of Bethlehem by Jenna Bruns at Cotton Patch Designs

How far is it to Bethlehem, detail, by Rachel W.N. Brown from the book Adoration Quilts - Appliqué Nativity Projects published by Martingale

Yonder Star by Ann Lauer at Grizzly Gulch Gallery (Montana)

Nativity Scene at Creations Sew Clever (Ohio)

 
This year Hanukkah begins on Tuesday, December 20, and ends at sunset on Wednesday, December 28. The festival of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE. Upon re-entering the Temple, it was found that there was only enough oil for the menorah to last for one day. The miracle of Hanukkah was that the oil burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil. An eight day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle which is observed by the kindling of the lights of the Menorah. The festival is symbolized in these charming wall hangings.

Happy Hanukkah by Elizabeth Rosenberg, pattern at Dreidel

Home for Hanukkah, 32.5" x 57.5", by Cheryl Lynch at Cheryl Lynch Quilts. Featured in McCall's Quilting 2009

Christmas Eve

The Adoration of the Magi is the name traditionally given to the Christian subject in the Nativity of Jesus in which the three Magi, represented as kings, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. For Christmas Eve we wanted to share a book with quilts that bring back the story of the Nativity.
 
How far is it to Bethlehem? by Rachel W.N. Brown, from the book Adoration Quilts - Appliqué Nativity Projects, published by Martingale and Company.

For her book, Rachel W.N. Brown created projects based on the Nativity, along with stories, scriptural background and meditations that remind us of the true meaning of the holiday. One reviewer on Amazon.com said: "Ms. Brown takes you on a Biblical and personal journey with each quilt block...After reading the role each block plays in telling the story of Jesus' birth, I felt better prepared to tell the story, creating my own nativity quilt."

Image credits and links: Images are shown with the generous permission of Kay Shirey at Rachel's Quilt Patch. Rachel W.N. Brown started the quilt shop in 1997 in the beautifully restored freight station in historic Staunton, Virginia.  Rachel's daughter, Kay, also works at Rachel's Quilt Patch.