Hanukkahvester?

Michal came home this weekend, after 4 weeks away at her navy-base and we missed her so much! It was wonderful to have her home :) She said how sorry she was she had missed Hanukkah and that she also would miss our "oliebollen" (Dutch donuts) with New Years day! And if we please could make latkes just for her? So we had a belated Hanukkah/early Sylvester evening (dec 31) last friday :) Hubby even found a bottle of Dutch advokat in a local store ( around 8 euros) which we take traditionally with whipped cream (is this what the British and Americans call eggnog?). My mother loved it! I can tell you, I don't need to see another oily food for a year! But it was fun! Sunday morning she left again for her base. Her next leave is in 4 weeks again. Anyway, here's to a wonderful 2011! Mazzel end Broghe!

Recipe for the oliebollen here.

In Israel, New year is celebrated in September as we keep the Jewish calender and not the Gregorian. Young people nowadays celebrate the Christian calendar New Years day (Dec 31) in discos etc, but it's more of a novelty and not a national holiday (neither is Christmas). Old years night is called Sylvester in Israel.

In fact Sylvester was not a reason to celebrate at all.

The Israeli term for New Year’s night celebrations, “Sylvester,” was the name of the “Saint” and Roman Pope who reigned during the Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.). The year before the Council of Nicaea convened, Sylvester convinced Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem. At the Council of Nicaea, Sylvester arranged for the passage of a host of viciously anti-Semitic legislation. All Catholic “Saints” are awarded a day on which Christians celebrate and pay tribute to that Saint’s memory. December 31 is Saint Sylvester Day - hence celebrations on the night of December 31 are dedicated to Sylvester’s memory.

Read more:
From A history on new years.