Hanukkah is Called Januca in Mexico

Yup. The census people are right -- Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in America. On my recent author tour to the United States, Spanish was in the air, everywhere. So, Hola everybody. This week I'm going to take you to Mexico, where Hanukkah is called Januca, and where our traditional dreidel game has a twin counterpart called Toma Todo or La Pirinola.

Mexican Jews know how to give Hanukkah a fun spin. No latkes or sugar doughnuts for them.  They eat a homemade favorite called bimuelos -- fried fritters drenched in either sugar or syrup (yes, you can forget a heathy diet on Hanukkah) -- or corn dough balls with marmalade inside. Ooo...so many sticky fingers make for lots of laughs. But the real fun begins with making a dreidle shaped pinata and ends with banging it apart (as seen in this photo) and treated to a shower of sweets and toys.
Need I say more about Hanukkah party ideas?
O.K. One more.
Since Spanish is America's second language, sneak in a little Hanukkah lesson in Spanish while you're breaking the dreidel pinata.
Feliz Januca. Happy Hanukkah everybody.


Photo Credit