History 101: Hanukkah
by Aris Cookson
Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated in late fall or early winter changing depending on the Gregorian calendar. The word “Chanukah” means “dedication,” referring to the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago. At that time, a small group of Jewish fighters known as the Maccabees revolted against a powerful empire that had restricted Jewish religious practices and taken control of the Temple. After a difficult struggle, the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple and worked to purify and restore it for worship.
According to tradition, when they searched for oil to relight the Temple’s menorah, they found only a single small jar, enough to burn for just one night. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight nights, giving them time to prepare fresh, pure oil. This miracle is the reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. Families mark the holiday by lighting a nine-branched candelabrum called a hanukkiah. Using a helper candle called the shamash, they light one candle on the first night and add another each night until all eight glow. Many display the hanukkiah in a window to share its light. Traditions also include special prayers, songs, playing dreidel (a four-sided spinning top), exchanging gifts, and eating foods fried in oil like latkes and jelly-filled doughnuts. Hanukkah today celebrates resilience, freedom, and the enduring power of light.
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/What-Is-Hanukkah.htm
History 101: Celebrating Kwanzaa
By: Kylie Pellouso
Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated annually from December 26 to January 1. It is a celebration of African American and Pan-African culture, community, and heritage. This holiday was founded by a man named Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 right in the aftermath of the Watts Riots with its intention to unite and empower the black community. Its name origin is from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which translates to “first fruits.” This name draws inspiration from the traditional African harvest festivals.
Despite what people may believe, this holiday is not a holiday that is religious. It is completely a cultural holiday that is open to people of all faiths. Each day of celebration during this holiday focuses on one of the “Nguzo Saba”, or Seven principles. These seven principles being: Umoja 9unity), kujichagulia (self-deterination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith).
Common celebrations you might see during this holiday would be things such as candle lighting on the kinara, storytelling, cultural music and dance, a large feast called karamu on the sixth celebration day, and typically handmade and educational gifts that are exchanged on the final day of celebration.
This holiday is extremely important as it reinforces the core cultural values of the community and strengthens bonds throughout it.
Source: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/kwanzaa
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Triangle Burger Restaurant Review
By Pablo Jandres
If you are looking for a place to go for comfort, then Triangle Burger would be the place to go. Triangle Burger was established in 1963 and still today has a nice old-school retro look to it. The lighting was normal white lights with a few LEDs, but upon walking inside, it feels like getting pulled back in time with their checkered floors and a Coca-Cola collection going back into the 1960s, though I'm not sure about the specific dates of the items since they are donated by their customers! The place is old school, so they have a variety of options to order, from burgers to chicken sandwiches and hot dogs or corn dogs. It wouldn’t be considered fine dining, but it is a place to go back to relax and listen to old-school music, allowing you to enjoy the area around you.
They don’t have too many different items on their menu, but it is something that brings the mood together, going from burgers to your own liking, whether it’s a normal cheeseburger or if you prefer more items. They also offer add-ons like bacon, double cheeseburgers, or even pastrami burgers. But if you’re not really a burger person, they also offer chicken sandwiches that suit your taste, especially kids’ meals for any children that may come too! I got a double bacon cheeseburger meal for $9.99, which came with a drink and fries on the side. After ordering, the wait should be around 10 minutes, especially since their burgers are charbroiled; they are worth the wait, though! And if you’re looking for something without meat, they also have veggie burgers on the menu. The meal was worth it, especially for the taste, having a slightly smoky flavor, and all together it just feels like a burst of flavor on the first bite. The fries are also freshly made, not being too soggy or too crunchy, just having the perfect temperature and crunch, not being too plain but also having the right amount of salt to bring out the flavor without being overly salty. As for service, they provide you with your food after it’s finished, and the sauces and napkins are available for you to grab. There was no one walking around except the two employees in the back.
One negative to Triangle Burger would be the aftereffects of the food; it does taste good in the moment, but the food can bring a bit of dryness to your throat afterward. However, overall, Triangle Burger has a very nostalgic feeling with the design and overall ambiance of an old retro-styled location.
Weird News: Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction!
