| Narrator: Two friends, Greg and Charlie, meet at a | | | | Greg: Yep! Our family eats roast turkey! Some of my |
| park on a Saturday afternoon. Greg is carrying a | | | | friends' families eat ham, though. You want to know |
| basketball. | | | | what I love most? The Christmas cookies and apple |
| Greg: Hi, Charlie! Want to shoot some hoops?! | | | | pie! My grandparents like the fruitcake. I love that my |
| Charlie: I surely would, Greg, but the court looks | | | | entire family comes over. What else do you do on |
| crowded right now. How about taking a walk, first? | | | | Hanukkah? |
| Greg: Okay. | | | | Charlie: My family plays our favorite game, dreidel. A |
| Narrator: The two boys start walking and Greg | | | | dreidel is a spinning top with four Hebrew letters on it. |
| dribbles the ball as they go. | | | | We play with nuts and everyone puts three into the |
| Greg: Is your family getting ready for Christmas, yet? | | | | kitty to begin. If someone spins and lands on three of |
| Charlie: Well, actually, we celebrate Chanukah. Since it | | | | the letters, they either do nothing, take half the kitty, or |
| starts in two weeks, this year, my parents have | | | | put in three more nuts. The lucky player who lands on |
| started shopping for presents, I'm sure. My sister and I | | | | Gimmel, though, wins the whole pot! We also like |
| are making them a calendar. Boy, will they be surprised | | | | getting chocolate candy wrapped in gold paper to |
| when they see the pictures we chose! I can't wait to | | | | resemble coins. It's called Chanukah gelt because gelt |
| give it to them. | | | | is the Hebrew word for money. What is your favorite |
| Greg: I guess we have more time to get ready | | | | part of Christmas? |
| because Christmas is December 25. My little sister and | | | | Greg: Hmm. I love so many things about it but I guess I |
| brother still think Santa brings their gifts and leaves | | | | really enjoy how my family comes together and |
| them under our tree. Your calendar sounds like a neat | | | | decorates our Christmas tree. Everyone does his part |
| idea but I think I'll buy my family some presents at the | | | | and hangs glass ornaments, tinsel, and strung popcorn. |
| mall. | | | | And, oh, the singing! All of us are smiling and happy. By |
| Charlie: For Chanukah, my parents give my sister and | | | | the way, did you know that many Christmas customs |
| me a present on each of the eight nights the holiday | | | | we observe today started in Germany? The English |
| lasts. Some Jewish families give presents all at once, | | | | Queen, Victoria, visited relatives over there and fell in |
| like you do. | | | | love with Prince Albert. After they got married and |
| Greg: Why does Hanukkah last for eight days? | | | | returned to England, the English people loved their tree |
| Charlie: Well, you see, the Assyrian Greek King | | | | and hand-blown glass ornaments. In the US, the tree |
| Antiochus IV captured and desecrated the Holy | | | | tradition probably began with the Hessian troops during |
| Temple in Jerusalem. By the time the Maccabees | | | | the American Revolution or with German immigrants. In |
| recaptured it, there was enough holy oil to last for only | | | | 1851, a farmer from the Catskill Mountains sold |
| one day. But guess what! It wound up lasting for eight | | | | evergreen trees in New York City and by 1920, the |
| days instead!! We light candles in a menorah, or | | | | custom of having a Christmas tree was very |
| candelabra, every night. On the first night, we light one; | | | | common. I can't imagine Christmas without one! |
| on the second night, two; and so on until all candles are | | | | Narrator: The boys are close to the basketball court, |
| lit on the eighth night. The tallest candle is the | | | | again. |
| shammash and we use it to light all the others. | | | | Charlie: Well, we're back where we started! I learned |
| Greg: Wow! We light candles, too, but for a different | | | | alot about Christmas. You know, even though we |
| reason. You know that Christmas is the day Jesus | | | | have different religions and celebrate different holidays, |
| was born. Well, in medieval times, there was a legend | | | | we both love getting together with our families at this |
| that the Christ Child would be wandering the Earth in | | | | time of year and enjoy the spirit of exchanging |
| search of places He would be welcomed. When we | | | | presents. |
| put candles in our windows or along our walkways, it's | | | | Greg: Yeah, it's nice to know we have something in |
| to signify that He is welcome at our house. Of course, | | | | common besides basketball. Thanks for telling me |
| no one knew how He would be dressed so the | | | | about Hanukkah. The court's pretty empty, now. Do |
| custom arose that people were not turned away on | | | | you still have time to shoot some hoops? |
| Christmas. | | | | Charlie: You bet! |
| Charlie: That's interesting. What do you do on | | | | Narrator: The boys take off for the court and start |
| Christmas Eve? | | | | playing basketball. |
| Greg: We celebrate Christmas Eve by having a big | | | | Activities for use with this play |
| mass at church and singing Christmas carols. Did you | | | | 1. The above play can be read by three children or |
| know the most famous carol service comes from | | | | used as part of a program with the inclusion of |
| Cambridge in England? It was first performed in 1918 | | | | Christmas, Chanukah, and winter songs and dances. |
| from King's College as a way to celebrate that World | | | | 2. Have children attempt writing a similar play about |
| War I had ended! | | | | two other countries' observances. |
| Charlie: Well, for Chanukah, there is no special temple | | | | 3. Make a comparison chart for Christmas and |
| service. We do have parties, though, and celebrate | | | | Chanukah and include this information from the play: |
| with eating festive meals, dancing, playing games, and | | | | religious significance, presents, candles, celebrations, |
| opening presents. All our relatives get together and | | | | and foods. |
| that makes me happy. Because oil is so important to | | | | 4. Do further research on other symbols of each |
| Chanukah, many foods are made with it. My favorite is | | | | holiday. |
| potato latkes, or pancakes, served with | | | | However you celebrate the season, HAPPY |
| applesauce...yum! Do you eat anything special for | | | | HOLIDAYS TO ALL! |
| Christmas? | | | | |