Multicultural holiday celebrations in the suburbs
Between Christmas trees and lights everywhere, Christmas songs hitting the radio and Christmas specials lining up on television, Santa Claus can seem pretty dominant during the holiday season. But if you celebrate different traditions or just want to expose your kids to some multiculturalism, these events allow them to learn a little about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Chinese New Year.
• Lights! Dreidel! Action!, Bernard Weinger JCC, 300 Revere Drive, Northbrook, (224) 406-9204; www.gojcc.org
Hours: 9-11:30 a.m. Dec. 25
Admission: $18-$25 per family
Reaching out to the Jewish and Israeli communities, this party teaches a little about the meaning of the Festival of Lights with a display and Hanukkiyah lighting. The miracle of the eight night holiday is that a jar of oil used to rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem was only meant to last one night but burned for eight. So as part of the celebration kids can sample different oils mixed with herbs along with oil-fried jelly doughnuts. The event also includes an entertainer singing, performing magic tricks and juggling, Hanukkah-related crafts and free swim from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Family Hanukkah Party, Anita M. Stone JCC, 3400 W. 196th St., Flossmoor, (708) 799-7650; www.gojcc.org
Hours: 4-6 p.m. Dec. 14
Admission: $7.50, $5 for kids, free for kids 3 and under
This party exposes kids to the tasty traditions of Hanukkah, with potato pancakes and jelly-filled doughnuts. After they've filled up on dishes made with oil, kids can play some dreidel games, compete to spin the four sided top signifying the miracle of Hanukkah, sing some songs and do themed crafts.
• Holiday Around the World, Mario Parente Theater at the Heritage Center, 1 S. 325 Ardmore Ave., Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 627-6100; www.obtpd.org
Hours: 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Dec. 17
Admission: $6
Kidworks has been performing this show dedicated to teaching young children different traditions for four years. Highly interactive, actors tell the stories of different holidays and then children from the audience come on stage, dressing up and acting out different aspects. For Hanukkah children play candles and spin a giant dreidel. For Kwanzaa performers show off their training with African dancing and drumming and explain the ceremony with kids getting a chance to play the drums too. For the Chinese New Year children can get under a giant dragon from Chicago's Chinatown. The show also includes the story of the first Christmas tree in Germany and finishes off with a performance of Feliz Navidad complete with 20 kids shaking the maracas.
• Hanukkah Dinner, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, (847) 835-8213
Hours: 4:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 22
Admission: $28.95, $17.95 for kids 3 to 12, free for kids 2 and under
Whether you prefer to eat early or a little later, you can have dinner and sample traditional Jewish dishes like potato latkes with applesauce, rugelach and decorated dreidel cookies, with vegetarian options available. At 6 p.m. the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band performs. After eating your family can check out the Gardens' Wonderland Express exhibit which features a tiny train riding around 80 miniature versions of Chicago landmarks, complete with indoor snow and plenty of holiday lights. All of the structures have been creatively crafted with natural materials, including a replica of the Marshall Field's clock made from cinnamon sticks and grape vine tendrils and a replica of the Museum of Science and Industry using a gourd. Of course there are plenty of plants as well, along with miniature landscapes like bridges and waterfalls.