Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Tonight at sundown, Rosh Hashanah will begin with the sighting of the new moon! Rosh Hashanah is a sacred Jewish festival, also known as the Feast of Trumpets or the Jewish New Year. It begins with 100 shofar blasts (made from a ram's horn) and lasts 2 days and 2 nights. The Feast of Trumpets is one of 7 feasts given by God in Leviticus 23 of the Holy Scriptures. According to verse 24, it is to be "day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts". The Feast of Trumpets is also mentioned again in Numbers 29:1-6. It is then followed by the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles for a total of 10 feast days, also known as Yom Kippur.

An audio sample of the shofar blasts:

Jewish people continue to celebrate this sacred holiday every year, which includes a traditional holiday feast of challah bread, pomegranates and apples dipped in honey. It is also considered a time of reflection, renewal and repentance. Some go to a lake, river or sea to recite prayers and symbolically cast their sins into the water, leaving old shortcomings behind and starting the new year with a clean slate.


Though Christians are not required to observe Torah law, it should be of great interest due to its Biblical context. The Jewish feasts are not only a time to honor God, but are also considered "appointed times" and as Paul tells us in Colossians 2:16-17, "are a shadow of things to come". Four of the 7 feasts were fulfilled with the death (Passover), burial (Feast of Unleavened Bread) and resurrection (Feast of First Fruits) of Christ and the day of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). Prophetically speaking, there are still 3 Jewish feasts to be fulfilled in the Second Coming of Christ, which includes the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement & Feast of Tabernacles. To learn more about Rosh Hashanah and its traditions, check out the graphic chart and links below!

Rosh Hashanah on Wikipedia

Judaism 101: Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah on Chabad.org

Hebrew4Christians: Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

CBN: Rosh Hashanah

Celebrating Thanksgiving Traditions

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving - Psalms 95:2

We can't tell you how fun it was for us to read everyone's favorite Thanksgiving memories and traditions in the comments section of our last giveaway (A Thanksgiving Giveaway)! We thought it would be proper to respond by sharing a bit about our own favorite traditions, although I'm sure you'll find that they don't differ much from everyone else's. I guess the great thing about Thanksgiving is that everyone is of one heart and mind. We gather together with loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings we've experienced throughout the year. The sweet simplicity has yet to be a victim of the over-commercialization you find with so many other holidays. In fact, for the most part it has went untouched, which preserves it as one of the most special times of the year. Here is a bit of what makes it special for us...

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Due to changing family circumstances and recent moves, my husband and I have found it somewhat difficult to pin down specific traditions, as we are constantly forced to shake things up. This can be both exciting and disappointing at times. On the one hand, I miss the stability of childhood traditions, but I also appreciate breaking the monotony and seeing what each year brings. Still, for me there are some rituals that I will rarely forgo.

In a nut shell, my most cherished Thanksgiving traditions consist of getting up early to prepare the the bird and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thanks to my sister Kristin, we picked up on her family's tradition of indulging in warm cinnamon rolls and fruit for breakfast in recent years. After the parade I like to pop in a holiday special (or two) and we usually eat dinner some time in the late afternoon. Among the general Thanksgiving dishes are 2 recipes passed on from another sister, Jill, which includes a double layer pumpkin pie and cornbread casserole. When feasting with a larger group I also like to include my Cranberry Thanksgiving Punch. I somehow feel closer to my siblings when I make their traditions my traditions.

We then spend the rest of the evening pouring over Black Friday ads and planning our early morning route. This, of course, means getting to bed early, though that doesn't always happened. Last year we also went to a huge holiday light display in the evening, which we hope to do again this year. I think that could become a special addition to our yearly traditions. We also like to begin our Christmas decorating around this time. But most importantly, we always take a moment to thank God for all that we have. No matter what our struggles, we realize that we are blessed beyond comprehension and are thankful for a warm house, food on the table and a whole lot of love!

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Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday. It's the big kick-off for the Christmas season (which is exciting), but there are other reasons I love it so . . .

1.) It's very hard to commercialize.
2.) The Christian tradition is nearly impossible to downplay.
3.) It doesn't involved gifts.
4.) The focus is on the whole family

Yes, it involves work, but it's largely a very pleasant, relaxing day and we have a few little traditions that make it even more special.

One of our earliest started when our first child was quite young -- cinnamon rolls and quiche for breakfast while we watch the Macy's parade on TV. We have had to drop the quiche recently, but the cinnamon rolls are a must (ask my kids.)

We are pretty traditional when it comes to the meal . . . we like to set a nice table with glass and candles and must have all the traditional fixin's to eat. This is the day we drink sparkling cider (we don't drink alcohol) and eggnog, too. I also like to put out Andes candies and other holiday chocolates and my oldest daughter insists on crusty bread with spinach dip for a light snack later in the day.

We involved as much family as can attend and we all share things we are grateful for. My husband or father-in-law say the Thanksgiving prayer as we sit down to eat (usually at 2 pm.)

At 4 pm, it's football time which cannot be missed because my DH and his brother have been Dallas Cowboy fans since they were very young. I have no interest in that, so I, some of the kids, and my mother-in-law and other guests might play games or watch a Christmas movie. ("Elf" or "Home Alone" are top choices) instead. It's very pleasant to enjoy this time, munching on left-overs with a nice blazing fire.

Our kids love traditions and they make sure we do not overlook any. They even make sure we are up for the parade pre-show! But they are also very helpful at making the house super-clean (another tradition) so it all feels homey and exciting.

There is nothing like family and friends to make the holidays special and memorable. I always make sure I grab my camera and video-cam and record these times and my kids get no end of fun looking back and remembering. I know that when they are grown, they will have warm memories of home and will strive to re-create those times for their own.

Holidays are more than one day -- they are a season and, as I stated in other posts, we love to study the history and remember God's goodness toward us and having a holiday that is largely dedicated to that is about as good as it gets.


May you all have a truly blessed Thanksgiving and we'll be back on Monday, November 30th, with loads of Christmas cheer!

For Apple Picking

It's prime time for apple picking in northern New England. The kids and I have had a lot of fun reading some of the books I posted in a previous blog and we learned interesting facts about the history of apples and apples today. For example, did you know that the leading state for apple production -- by FAR -- is Washtington state? A distant 2nd is New York and then the great, state of Michigan (where I grew up.) In fact, the apple blossom is Michigan's state flower.

Here's another one: The most popular apple is the Red Delicious. (Good -- that's my favorite!)

We all know who Johnny Appleseed is -- he was born in MA, but he spent most of his life planting and cultivating apple trees in the Ohio Valley and many of the apple trees there today are descendants of his.

New England isn't slack in the apple department either. In fact, states on both coasts are great apple producers. Around here, you will mostly find Cortlands and MacIntosh. My family is happy about that (they do not share my love for Red Delicious.) For them, the more tart the better -- and since "Macs" ripen earlier than other varieties (and fall and winter come sooner here), we decided that a sunny, September Saturday was perfect timing.

We head across the Connecticut River into Vermont (since it is the closest large apple orchard to us.):

Most of the apple trees there are of the dwarf variety -- perfect for climbing!

Like most orchards, they let you eat as many as you want on the go. My kids can't get enough. They wonder about all the apples on the ground and I inform them that they will be used to feed animals, make cider, and for applesauce.

It's fun to look for an orchard that offers a little bit more for the kiddies. Some have cider mills, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches, but this one is a little more old-fashioned. Here, the kids enjoy the petting zoo (full of cows, deer, goats, chickens, rabbits, and other small, farm animals.)

Not surprisingly you will also find loads of pumpkins and other vegetables. Harvest is in!

A must for apple picking is the ability to buy apple cider donuts. If they don't have 'em, we don't go! It's a once-a-year treat . . . fresh donuts, hot from the fryer (your choice, plain or sugar -- I prefer plain.) Mmmmmm . . . look at the grease on that bag!

And like many public farms and orchards in our rural area, you will find a country store with home-town goodies and souvenirs.

If you are one of those rare folk who do not want to bother trampling through the trees and up the hills in order to fill a bushel full yourself, you can always purchase pre-packaged bags (and still enjoy being at the orchard.)

If you are used to grabbing the apple sales at the grocery store this time of year, I encourage you to consider your local orchard instead. If you are in a mind to make pies, tarts, applesauce, cider, or other apple goodies, you can't go wrong picking the apples right off the tree (bruise-free) and the prices are usually pretty comparable as well.

Don't miss out on this fall ritual. (September is prime time for the northeast and other parts north; October is better in other areas.) You can start here or do a search in your area for orchards. If you have kids, they are bound to relish in the simple fun and the opportunity to get out into the crisp air and you will find memories and traditions to last a lifetime.

Enjoying Apples + A Little Giveaway

CLOSED
It's that time of year again in New England (and much of the north) -- apple harvest time! As late summer takes on a distinct chill in the evening air, my kids start to think about fall delights. I have to admit that with our short summers, it's a bit disenchanting to start thinking about these things as early as my kids would like to, so I try to put them off until the appropriate time. If some of my kids had their way, we would decorate in autumn glory on September 1, but I stress the importance of waiting.

First, I want them to appreciate the seasons in the moment. Like I said, summer is particularly fleeting in New Hampshire (especially this year) and, though it's tempting to jump ahead to the next thing, we need to really relish and enjoy the gift that God has given us now to its fullest. (I admit, it's a little harder to do when spring is on the horizon after our typical long winters.)

Second, I realize that celebrating too soon sort of kills the event. You know what I mean -- how many of us cringe when we see Christmas decorations at WalMart before Halloween? How does it feel to open your birthday presents early? We don't want to be immune to those very special times . . .

I love what the Bible says, in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." I always say that half the fun of any event is the anticipation of it, but in a timely manner. Nothing is more depressing than being sick of Christmas music by December 1.

These are some of our typical September rituals . . .

1. Celebrate Labor Day
2. Back to school
3. Celebrate September birthday
4. Do a homeschool study on fall events
5. Go to a County Fair
6. Celebrate first day of fall: decorate and make fall cupcakes. Start lighting candles every evening.
7. Go apple picking and take scenic drive

Though eager to get going on all these events, the kids really do appreciate the schedule and they appreciate the events more for their structure. I have read many times how important tradition is to children and you can bet that my children remember them ALL and will not let one pass by uncelebrated. We do change things up a bit in some years, depending on various factors, but we do not deviate very far from that schedule. I know that the children will continue these rituals with their own families.

So, we are up to step 4! In anticipation of our annual apple-picking excursion, I like to read some fun books about apples and Johnny Appleseed with the younger children. (But don't kid yourself -- my older children like to listen in, too!) I also add a lot of printouts, puzzles, and coloring pages for them to work on while I read out loud. I give them a notebook to keep them in as a neat Unit Study -- it's one of the times during our school day that the kids are eager to begin.

Here are a few examples of the books we read:

I particularly love The Life and Times of the Apple. Charles Micucci does an absolutely beautiful job with the artwork and the book is chocked full of information and history of apples in America (Did you know, for example, that only the crab apple is native to the United States?) He shows you various apple types, how they are grown, and even an "apple timeline." (Besides this wonderful book, he writes on other natural topics in the same delightful manner. Check him out on Amazon!)

We always read about John Chapman, AKA "Johnny Appleseed."

For kids who are a little older and reading independently:

This is also a good opportunity for me to pull out this gem:

Though not really scientific in nature, it is a beautifully explained practical example of the Holy Trinity. For example, the author explains that there are 3 parts to the apple -- the peel, the flesh, and the core. They are all different and unique, but they are still ALL APPLE.
(If you are interested in any of these books, you can find them on our "'Tis the Season" bookstore link on the sidebar.)

Like I said, I love to add activities and printouts to our study. I will post one link to get you started (I hate wading through dozens of links; it's overwhelming!), but if you want more options, do a Google search on "apples"; that will keep you busy for hours! ::grin:::
http://www.tooter4kids.com/Apples/apple_links.htm

Now for some fun for YOU! In honor of this harvest season, I thought it would be fun to have a little DRAWING! I found these cute finger towels at Rite Aid. (Who knew?) It is a 2-pack; one towel is brown with a basket of red apples and the words, "Bushel and a Peck" stitched on it and the other is a matching white towel with brown spots. These are fun to put out in the fall, but also for anyone with an apple decor in their kitchen.


To enter, simply leave a comment telling us what your favorite season is and why. Please feel free to elaborate or just a quick sentence. We love to hear your stories and connect as much as possible! I'm sure others enjoy it, too.

On Monday at noon, we will draw a name using Random.org, so it will be completely free from human error. If your name is drawn, it will be announced and you can contact us with your mailing information. If we do not get a response within a week, we will re-do the drawing. Thanks and God bless you during this wonderful season!