Bergen County-Wide Menorah Lighting Event With Carousel Set For This Week

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Although several Bergen County towns already held menorah lighting celebrations on Thursday, the first night of the holiday, the county will hold its own celebration this week, with special features.

The county's ongoing "Winter Wonderland" at Van Saun Park in Paramus — which has ticketed attractions such as ice skating — will host a menorah lighting event this Wednesday, Dec. 13.

The event, which begins at 6 p.m. at 216 Forest Ave., will include kids' activities and entertainment. Some of the entertainment, like the carousel, ice skating, and bumper cars, will require tickets.

See the flyer below for more details, and always double check the time and address before heading over.

NOTE: Go here for more specifics on the event, then go here for tickets to the attractions.

Find out more about Winter Wonderland in general here.

There will also be a kinase lighting at Winter Wonderland on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.

What's Hanukkah About?

Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication. The eight-day observance commemorates the time when the Jews rose up in the Second Century B.C. against leaders who wanted to suppress their religion and worship, known as the Maccabean Revolt.

As lore has it, a group of sheltering fighters had only enough olive oil to light one candle on their menorah, but it lasted eight days. (A menorah is an ancient candelabrum with several branches, designed to light a temple more brightly.)

While Hanukkah is a popular observance because of the celebrations, it's not the most religious holiday in Judaism. The most significant holidays include Passover, which commemorates Israelites' escape from Egypt (April 22, 2024); Rosh Hashana, which marks the new year (Oct. 2, 2024); and Yom Kippur, the most solemn of the Jewish religious holidays, when Jews seek to make up for their sins and reconcile with God (Oct. 11, 2024).

Next year, Hannukah will begin at sundown on Dec. 25, 2024.