Oct
24
Thu
2013
9th Haunted Happenings at LJ Historical Museum @ Lake Jackson Historical Museum
Oct 24 @ 11:00 pm – Oct 25 @ 1:00 am

Tricks & Treats; Face Painting; Games & Crafts; Mad Scientists.

Oct
25
Fri
2013
Family Fright Night @ MacLean Park
Oct 25 @ 10:00 pm

Get ready for the spookiest event of the year! There will be tent decorating, trick-or-treating, a haunted hayride, cookout & more! Bring your own tent, camping gear and decorations; food, drinks, candy and lots of fun provided!

Oct
26
Sat
2013
Monster Dash 5k & BASF Kids’ Run @ MacLean Park
Oct 26 @ 12:30 pm

Start off with the BASF Kids Run (600 meters). Kids run is FREE and includes a fun run t-shirt and medals to all children who participate. Then we’ll have a 5k run through MacLean Park and along the Dow Centennial Trail. We will also give awards for the best costumes, so show us your running style in style! Monster Dash t-shirts to the first 100 5k participants who register.

National Take Back Day (Got Drugs?) @ Lake Jackson EMS
Oct 26 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

All prescription & non-prescription drugs are accepted in a drive through collection process and disposed of properly. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. You can help prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding your home of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted medications. •All items can be left in the original packaging, •You do not have to empty bottles into a zip lock. You may leave the items as you found them and bring them for disposal, •All “over the counter” medicines/drugs are accepted, • All prescription medicines/drugs are accepted, •Needles will be accepted,

SPCA Bark in the Park @ MacLean Park
Oct 26 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Bring your pets for a fun day in the park! Join us for food, entertainment, vendors and a silent auction. have your pet micro-chipped on site for only $20. There will also be a costume contest for your pets & children.

Nov
9
Sat
2013
Fall Clean-Up (Keep Lake Jackson Beautiful) @ Lake Jackson City Hall
Nov 9 @ 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Clean-up activities in and around the city to get ready for the Festival of Lights & Parade! Paper shredding on site; used oil collected, eye glasses recycled for the Lions Club Electronic Waste Collection @ Brazosport College 8:00 am – Noon

Nov
10
Sun
2013
Teddy Bear Tea benefiting BLUE SANTA @ Lake Jackson Civic Center
Nov 10 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Bring your favorite “friend” to afternoon tea. The party will include entertainment, dessert and pictures. Bring a new or gently used toy to donate to Blue Santa. Blue Santa provides food and toys to needy families in Lake Jackson during the Christmas Season.

Nov
23
Sat
2013
Festival of Lights @ Lake Jackson Civic Center area
Nov 23 – Nov 24 all-day

Come be a part of the 25th annual FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Kick off the holiday season with a family friendly festival for all ages – the annual Festival of Lights! Please bring your family and friends – come spend the day with us.

Nov
26
Tue
2013
Citywide Blood Drive @ The Recreation Center-Lake Jackson
Nov 26 – Nov 27 all-day

Give the gift of life! Schedule and appointment online at www.giveblood.org, enter sponsor code 0201 or call (979) 297-4533

Nov
28
Thu
2013
Chanukah/Hanukkah
Nov 28 – Dec 6 all-day

Many Jewish communities in the United States observe the first day of Hanukkah, which marks the start of Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah or Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people’s struggle for religious freedom.

Hanukkah gifts wrapped and ready to be given.

©iStockphoto.com/MarkCoffeyPhoto

What do people do?

Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Hanukkah on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Hanukkah period lasts for eight days and is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. The first night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum.

Many Americans of Jewish faith also eat food fried in olive oil, such as potato cakes, and different fried breads. Hanukkah dishes include sufganiot (Hanukkah donuts), potato latkes (pancakes), mandelbrot (this can be sliced like a hard bread), and rugelach (pastry that with different fillings). The first day of Hanukkah is the start of a celebratory period in which a four-sided toy called dreidel is used for games. The first night of Hanukkah is also a night when people sing traditional songs to celebrate Hanukkah. Gift-giving is also popular at this time of the year.

Public life

The first day of Hanukkah is not a federal public holiday in the United States. Some Jewish schools have their school vacation fall around the same time of Hanukkah.

Background

Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish people’s successful rebellion against the Greeks in the Maccabean War in 162 BCE. A ritual cleansing and re-dedication of the Temple occurred after the Jewish people’s victory. It is believed that there was only enough consecrated oil to keep the lamp burning for one day but the small bottle of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is referred as the Feast of Lights or Festival of Lights for this reason.

Moreover, the survival of Judaism over the many years is also celebrated during this period. The last day of Hanukkah, which marks the end of Hanukkah, falls on the eighth day of this period.

Symbols

The dreidel is a toy that is popular during the Hanukkah celebrations. It is a spinning top with a different Hebrew letter inscribed in each of its four sides – the four letters form an acronym meaning “a great miracle happened here”. The hanukiah (or chanukkiyah) is a type of candelabrum that holds eight candles to commemorate the eight days that the oil burned and a ninth candle that sits apart, known as the shamash, or servant candle that lights the others. One candle is lit on the first night, another on the second, and so forth until all candles are lit on the last night.

About Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) in other countries

Read more about Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day).

Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) Observances

Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.

 

Courtesy of DateandTime.com

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