{"id":15760,"date":"2017-12-25T09:11:38","date_gmt":"2017-12-25T14:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15760"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:40:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:40:34","slug":"the-story-of-chanukah-by-michelebe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15760","title":{"rendered":"The Story of Chanukah (by MicheleBE)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0 Strangers making their way to their new homes are invited to spend Christmas Eve at the Ponderosa; and share their Holiday with their Cartwrights.<\/p>\n<p>Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (2,020 words)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Story of Chanukah<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Christmas Eve\u00a0had once more arrived in the Sierra Nevada, and\u00a0with it, a blizzard was bearing down on Lake Tahoe.\u00a0 The Cohen and Levy families were struggling to get to their new homes in Virginia City, but the snow was falling faster, and no matter how hard the men and\u00a0the children\u00a0worked to clear a path for the horses and oxen, it was apparent they&#8217;d never reach the town by nightfall.<\/p>\n<p>Joe and Hoss were coming back to the Ponderosa after checking on the cattle.\u00a0 They saw the families in their wagons struggling to move ahead.\u00a0 Hoss took a look and told the elder Cohen there was no way the families would reach Virginia City this night.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Y&#8217;all can stay overnight with us and our brother, Adam, and our Pa.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll be warm, the oxen and horses will be able to rest up and we can celebrate\u00a0Christmas Eve\u00a0together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Begging your pardon,&#8221; Eleazar Cohen said.\u00a0 &#8220;We don&#8217;t celebrate\u00a0Christmas; we&#8217;re Jews.\u00a0 We couldn&#8217;t possibly worship with you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Joe noticed a young girl, Rachel, Eleazar&#8217;s daughter, peeking out from her father&#8217;s wagon.\u00a0 &#8220;Miss, we&#8217;d be happy to have you and your family stay with us.\u00a0 We&#8217;ll figure out something so you don&#8217;t have to go against your religion.\u00a0 But I should warn you, we have mistletoe hanging in our great room!\u00a0 Do you know what it&#8217;s for?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Rachel blushed and nodded, &#8220;We aren&#8217;t foreigners, Sir.\u00a0 We know what mistletoe is for!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t have to call me Sir.\u00a0 I&#8217;m just called Joe,&#8221; he answered with a twinkle in his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Introductions were made for the rest of the families.\u00a0 The Cohens were Eleazar, his wife Shoshana and daughter Rachel.\u00a0 The Levys consisted of the head of the house, Elan, his wife Sadie and their son, Ethan.\u00a0 The families followed Joe and Hoss whose horses were able to tamp down snow enough for the wagons to continue to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n<p>Ben and Adam met everyone in front of the house and bid them welcome.\u00a0 While the adults tended to the animals in the barn, the two youngsters made their way to the warmth of the hearth.\u00a0 Stockings hung from the mantle, but Rachel and Ethan ignored them.\u00a0 Carefully, Rachel unwrapped from a cloth that she carried, a menorah that glowed bright by the light of the fireplace.\u00a0 It had places for nine candles.\u00a0 Hop Sing greeted the youngsters, and Rachel inquired if he had any candles she could use.\u00a0 Hop Sing didn&#8217;t understand why, but found enough candles for her.<\/p>\n<p>The adults and the Cartwrights, their tasks completed, entered the home and started warming themselves by the fire.<\/p>\n<p>Hop Sing entered the room and announce he had prepared turkey and a ham, and it would be ready for dinner soon.\u00a0 A shudder went through all of the Cohens and Levys.<\/p>\n<p>Ben noticed, and trying to be hospitable, he asked Eleazar if something was wrong; he had a feeling the shudder had to do with the meal.<\/p>\n<p>Eleazar explained, &#8220;We are Jews and don&#8217;t eat any pork or shellfish.\u00a0 We consider these impure.\u00a0 As it is, we really shouldn&#8217;t eat the turkey unless it is killed under the supervision of a Jew specially skilled in the killing of approved animals, but since we have no one here to do that, we&#8217;ll have to partake of the turkey.\u00a0 We can also eat any vegetables as long as they aren&#8217;t prepared with lard.\u00a0 We do have schmaltz with us, which is like lard, only it&#8217;s made from chicken fat.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ben said the meal would be no problem for the families.\u00a0 He asked if the children would enjoy singing\u00a0Christmas\u00a0carols since it was\u00a0Christmas eve.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel spoke up, making sure she didn&#8217;t walk under any mistletoe.\u00a0 &#8220;We don&#8217;t celebrate\u00a0Christmas, but\u00a0tonight\u00a0is the\u00a0last night\u00a0of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights!\u00a0 We can light our menorah and maybe entertain you with songs for our holiday and you can sing your\u00a0Christmas\u00a0carols!<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Why that sounds like a mighty fine idea,&#8221; Ben said.<\/p>\n<p>Shoshana and Sadie asked if Hop Sing would mind if they prepared a side dish for dinner called &#8220;latkes&#8221;, potato pancakes, special for Chanukah because they were fried in oil.\u00a0 Hop Sing heard and agreed.<\/p>\n<p>*****<\/p>\n<p>Later, the table was set, the latkes were made, and it was time to light the menorah that had been placed on the low table before the fireplace.\u00a0 But before the menorah was lit, Eleazar and Elan decided it was necessary to teach the Cartwrights and remind their wives and children why Chanukah was celebrated.\u00a0 The families took seats on the various pieces of furniture in the great room, with Adam, Hoss, and Joe seated on the stone hearth.<\/p>\n<p>Eleazar went on to explain, \u201cThe eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, which means \u201cdedication\u201d in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Shoshana interrupted, &#8220;As my father, Sonya Leibe, may his soul rest in peace was was fond of saying, &#8216;Jewish holidays either come early or late; they&#8217;re never on time.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Wife, if I may continue?&#8221; Eleazar&#8217;s eyes\u00a0were\u00a0bright with laughter at his own words being told to others.\u00a0 With a nod of her head, he continued,\u00a0&#8220;Chanukah is often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games, and gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Elan took up the narrative concerning this history of Hanukkah, \u201cThe events that inspired the Hanukkah holiday took place during a particularly turbulent phase of Jewish history. Around 200 B.C., Judea\u2014also known as the Land of Israel\u2014came under the control of Antiochus III, the Seleucid king of\u00a0Syria, who allowed the Jews who lived there to continue practicing their religion. His son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, proved less benevolent: Ancient sources recount that he outlawed the Jewish religion and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. In 168 B.C., his soldiers descended upon\u00a0Jerusalem, massacring thousands of people and desecrating the city\u2019s holy Second Temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within its sacred walls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Y&#8217;mean the Jews were murdered on account of their religion?&#8221; asked Hoss.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Son, the Romans later on killed Christians,&#8221; Ben reminded Hoss.<\/p>\n<p>Eleazar continued, \u201cLed by the Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons, a large-scale rebellion broke out against Antiochus and the Seleucid monarchy. When Matthathias died in 166 B.C., his son Judah, known as Judah Maccabee (\u201cthe Hammer\u201d), took the helm; within two years the Jews had successfully driven the Syrians out of Jerusalem, relying largely on guerilla warfare tactics. Judah called on his followers to cleanse the Second Temple, rebuild its altar and light its menorah\u2014the gold candelabrum whose seven branches represented knowledge and creation and were meant to be kept burning every night.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Shoshana asked her husband to explain the Hanukkah \u201cMiracle\u201d.\u00a0 Smiling at his wife, he turned to the others, \u201cAccording to the Talmud, one of Judaism\u2019s most central texts, Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah\u2019s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>NOTE: (The first Book of the Maccabees tells another version of the story, describing an eight-day celebration that followed the rededication but making no reference to the miracle of the oil.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sadie came to stand next to Elan, wrapped an arm around his waist.\u00a0 \u201cThere are other interpretations of the Hanukkah story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy wife is correct.\u00a0 Some modern historians offer a radically different interpretation of the Hanukkah tale. In their view, Jerusalem under Antiochus IV had erupted into civil war between two camps of Jews: those who had assimilated into the dominant culture that surrounded them, adopting Greek and Syrian customs; and those who were determined to impose Jewish laws and traditions, even if by force. The traditionalists won out in the end, with the Hasmonean dynasty\u2014led by Judah Maccabee\u2019s brother and his descendants\u2014wresting control of the Land of\u00a0Israel\u00a0from the Seleucids and maintaining an independent Jewish kingdom for more than a century.<\/p>\n<p>Jewish scholars have also suggested that the first Hanukkah may have been a belated celebration of Sukkot, which the Jews had not had the chance to observe during the Maccabean Revolt. One of the Jewish religion\u2019s most important holidays, Sukkot consists of seven days of feasting, prayer and festivities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam had quietly listened as their guests and as the conversation quieted, he asked, \u201cBut what of your traditions surrounding Hanukkah?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Each guest took the opportunity relate how the Hanukkah celebration revolves around the kindling of a nine-branched menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiah. On each of the holiday\u2019s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown; the ninth candle, called the shamash (\u201chelper\u201d), is used to light the others. Jews typically recite blessings during this ritual and display the menorah prominently in a window as a reminder to others of the miracle that inspired the holiday.<\/p>\n<p>In another allusion to the Hanukkah miracle, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are particularly popular in many Jewish households. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with four-sided spinning tops called dreidels and exchanging gifts. In recent decades, particularly in North America, Hanukkah has exploded into a major commercial phenomenon, largely because it falls near or overlaps with\u00a0Christmas. From a religious perspective, however, it remains a relatively minor holiday that places no restrictions on working, attending school or other activities.<\/p>\n<p>After telling the story of Chanukah, Shoshana and Sadie (who had brought her family&#8217;s menorah into the house), lit the shamash of each menorah.\u00a0 They handed the lit candles to their children to light the other candles. But before the rest of the candles were lit, all of the members of the Jewish families recited the blessing for lighting the candles.\u00a0 They first recited the blessing in Hebrew. And then, so the Cartwrights and Hop Sing would understand, the families translated:\u00a0 &#8220;Blessed art Thou, oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has commanded us to light the Chanukah lights.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The children took turns lighting the candles from left to right.\u00a0 They replaced each shamash in its rightful place on their menorahs.<\/p>\n<p>Then, the families sang a Chanukah song.\u00a0 First, they sang it in Hebrew:<\/p>\n<p>Rock of Ages (Maoz Tzur)<\/p>\n<p><em>Maoz tzur y\u2019shuati<\/em><br \/>\n<em> l\u2019cha naeh l\u2019shabeach<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Tikon beit t\u2019filati<\/em><br \/>\n<em> v\u2019sham todah n\u2019zabeach.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>L\u2019eit tachin matbeach<\/em><br \/>\n<em> mitzar hamnabeach<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Az egmor b\u2019shir mizmor<\/em><br \/>\n<em> chanukat hamizbeach<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Az egmor b\u2019shir mizmor<\/em><br \/>\n<em> chanukat hamizbeach.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Then, they happily sang it in English:<\/p>\n<p><em>Rock of Ages let our song,<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Praise thy saving power;<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Thou amidst the raging foes,<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Wast our sheltering tower.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Furiously they assailed us,<\/em><br \/>\n<em> But Thine arm availed us<\/em><br \/>\n<em> And Thy word broke their sword,<\/em><br \/>\n<em> When our own strength failed us.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> And Thy word broke their sword,<\/em><br \/>\n<em> When our own strength failed us.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>More songs would have been sung, but stomachs were rumbling and visions of latkes were dancing in front of the children&#8217;s eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Before everyone\u00a0sat\u00a0down in the dining room for the feast, Ben poured wine at the table and invoked a blessing, welcoming the guests.\u00a0 Elan then proposed a blessing over the wine, which was translated:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Blessed art Thou,oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, who gives us the fruit of the vine.&#8221;\u00a0 And Eleazar piped up before the wine was sipped, &#8220;Le Cha-im&#8221;, to life!\u00a0 For it was a blessing and a life saving invitation from Hoss and Joe that enabled the families to survive the blizzard and enjoy the comfort and warmth of the Cartwrights, Hop Sing, and the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The End<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Author\u2019s Note 1:\u00a0 The reference to the Jewish holidays being early or late is a tribute to my late husband, Steve Eisenberg, whose Jewish name was Sanya Leibe; he was fond of saying this.\u00a0 My own Jewish name is, Michal Blume.<\/p>\n<p>Author\u2019s Note 2:\u00a0 Research on Chanukah came from History.com.\u00a0\u00a0Chanukah song lyrics are from myjewishlearning.com<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tags:\u00a0 Family<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_15760\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"15760\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary:\u00a0 Strangers making their way to their new homes are invited to spend Christmas Eve at the Ponderosa; and share their Holiday with the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n<p>Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (2,010 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207,"featured_media":12434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[1062],"class_list":["post-15760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","tag-advent-calendar","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":840,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Lake-Tahoe-Winter-2.jpg?fit=1600%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12743,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12743","url_meta":{"origin":15760,"position":0},"title":"Light up the Winter Darkness (by GinnyF &#038; Robin)","author":"Ginny F","date":"December 23, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 This is a Bonanza Christmas\/Chanukah story.\u00a0 One Christmas morning the Cartwrights go in rescue of a stranded family, who unbeknowst to the Cartwrights are being held hostage by bank robbers. Rated:\u00a0 PG13 for some harsh language and a fight scene (10,975 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Lake-Tahoe-Winter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Lake-Tahoe-Winter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Lake-Tahoe-Winter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Lake-Tahoe-Winter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Lake-Tahoe-Winter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12744,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12744","url_meta":{"origin":15760,"position":1},"title":"Light up the Winter Darkness (by Robin &#038; GinnyF)","author":"profrobinw","date":"December 23, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 This is a Bonanza Christmas\/Chanukah story.\u00a0 One Christmas morning the Cartwrights go in rescue of a stranded family, who unbeknowst to the Cartwrights are being held hostage by bank robbers. Rated:\u00a0 PG13 for some harsh language and a fight scene (10,975 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/cowboy-snow2.jpg?fit=405%2C368&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19269,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=19269","url_meta":{"origin":15760,"position":2},"title":"The Light Inside (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"December 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: On Christmas Eve Hoss guides a new friend from darkness into light. Rating - K, Word Count - 1566","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hoss-smile.jpg?fit=480%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":40600,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=40600","url_meta":{"origin":15760,"position":3},"title":"At Toast to Tradition &#8211; Part 2 (by Cheaux)","author":"Cheaux","date":"December 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Memories and traditions bring comfort and joy during Hanukkah and Christmas. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words 2,411 Written for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ben Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ben Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1004"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/G-1-DVS.jpg?fit=574%2C690&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/G-1-DVS.jpg?fit=574%2C690&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/G-1-DVS.jpg?fit=574%2C690&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6072,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6072","url_meta":{"origin":15760,"position":4},"title":"Troll the Ancient Yuletide Carol (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"December 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Rating: K Word Count=2546 Summary:\u00a0Sam Clemens recounts Christmas Eve activities in Virginia City for the readers of the Territorial Enterprise.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Troll-the-Ancient-Yuletide-Carol.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Troll-the-Ancient-Yuletide-Carol.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Troll-the-Ancient-Yuletide-Carol.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19234,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=19234","url_meta":{"origin":15760,"position":5},"title":"Morning Star aka Stealing Christmas (by Belle)","author":"Belle","date":"December 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Written for the 2018 Advent Calendar, based on the quiltign prompt, Morning Star. Not everyone enjoys the Christmas season, but maybe, just maybe\u2026 Rating: G 2,280 words","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Writing Challenges&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Writing Challenges","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=40"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2018-Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2018-Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2018-Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2018-Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}