Is it Hanukkah or Chanukah? How is it spelled anyway? For the answer to this and other burning (no pun intended) questions—read on! 

The reason you so often see varied spellings of Hanukkah is because it's an anglicized spelling of a Hebrew word—khanuká, meaning ‘dedication.’ So you may see Hanukka, Channuka or Khanukah or any number of alternate versions.

So how did Hanukkah get started? Long ago, a small band of Jews fought against the great Greek armies in an effort to regain their religious freedom. Once the battle had been won, they wanted to rededicate their temple. To their dismay, they found most of the oil needed for the menorah (candelabrum) had been defiled by the Greeks. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days—the time that was needed to prepare a new supply of oil for the menorah. An eight-day festival—Hanukkah, was declared to commemorate this miracle.

The menorah used to celebrate Hanukkah is not the usual seven-branched candelabrum. The chanukkiyah has nine branches. On each night of Hanukkah, a new candle is lit—to be burned for half an hour or until the candle burns out—from the candle in the ninth holder, called the shamash.

While it seems like the date for Hannukah changes every year, it's actually held on the same day—on the Hebrew calendar. The eight-day holiday starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which can occur anytime from late November to late December.

There are many more facts and trivia about Hanukkah. Even though it’s often associated with Christmas because of the commonality of season and gifts for children, Hanukkah is not the Jewish version of Christmas. For more information about Hanukkah as well as some of the delicious foods associated with the celebration, check out these videos at History.com.

Thanksgiving is a holiday for celebrating family and friends, and for giving thanks for the good things in life. Some people are comfortable expressing gratitude year-round, but if you find you only think about being thankful during Thanksgiving, read on for some things to consider.

It's good for you.

Feeling and expressing appreciation can boost your physical, mental, and emotional health. Simply saying “thank you” more often can make both you and the recipient happier.

It's not just about the things.

Material things aren't the only things you should be grateful for. Think of qualities of the people who surround you and who make your life richer: thoughtfulness, kindness, compassion, humor, responsibility, loyalty, friendship, honesty, patience, wisdom, and tolerance, to name a few.

There's nothing wrong with being thankful for material things, particularly those things that make our lives easier, and help keep us safe and healthy. Just think where we might be without modern medicine or modern plumbing, and how much easier it is to have access to information and others with computers and cell phones.

There are many reasons to be thankful.

Even without modern conveniences, it's enough to be thankful to be living on a planet that provides us with everything we need to survive—water, air, plants—as well as marvels like vast oceans and beautiful mountain scenery.

Lastly, don't forget to be thankful for the things that make your heart sing: art, music, books, laughter, your favorite ice cream, a pet's unconditional love, great memories, and hugs.

Have you started to make your own list? Post it somewhere you’ll see it every day.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could toss extra pounds we've gained over the holidays in the trash along with the Thanksgiving turkey carcass? If only we could take off the weight as easily as we can take down the decorations!

The easiest way to lose weight after the holidays is to avoid putting it on in the first place. “Easy??!!” you ask. “But—but--pumpkin pie! Grandma's fudge! And Mom's wonderful lumpy mashed potatoes!!!” So how can you have your cakes (and pies, and other treats) and eat them too?

1. Weigh yourself more often. Keep a closer eye on that bottom line and you won't be as tempted to make your bottom bigger!
2. Avoid large meals late at night and get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep is related to weight gain.
3. Between office parties and family celebrations, there are plenty of opportunities to blow a diet. Bring your own healthy contribution to the meal. And don’t arrive hungry - have a glass of water and a healthy snack before you leave home.
4. Limit your TV watching. Those favorite holiday movies may cause unnecessary mindless snacking, and those food commercials don't help.
5. If you're being tempted by larger portions by a family member, ask to take a plate home for later and promptly freeze it. Same thing with leftovers at your house—freeze it so you won't be tempted. It'll be there later.

Most of all: focus on the fun, not the food, during the festivities. Pay attention to the conversations, take photos, play games, sing, dance—just enjoy yourself!

November 11th is Veterans Day, a day to honor and give thanks to all those who are serving and have served in the US Armed Forces. Are you looking for some ideas on how to ensure the veterans in your community know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made to keep our country free?

Stand and cheer! Many towns organize parades or other events for Veterans Day. Here is some information you should know:

• Vetfriends provides parade locations listed by state. For more information, contact your local VA and inquire about local events.  If all else fails, look at your community's event calendar, or simply ask on Facebook—someone is bound to know!
• Wave the red, white and blue. If you're displaying the flag outside, make sure it's done right—on a pole. The blue field (or “union”) belongs at the top, near the staff.
• Do not wear the flag as part of a costume. Military personnel, police, firefighters and military organizations may wear the flag on their uniform.
• If you are wearing a flag lapel pin, it should be worn on the left, near the heart.

Don't forget that some restaurants and businesses in your town may offer freebies or other discounts to vets on Veterans Day—be sure to frequent these businesses to show your support, and if you run into a veteran on November 11th—or any other day—take a moment to thank him or her for their service.

As the holidays approach, it's natural to take a look at your spending and wonder how you can improve your financial picture.

There are a number of blogs out there that can help, but rather than spending time looking for articles on more ways to prepare ramen noodles, here are five personal finance blogs that provide… (here it comes)… a “wealth” of information.

Take a little time and check them out—particularly the comments. Not only might you find helpful information in the comments, but you can discover if the other readers are similar to you and are benefiting from the advice.

1. Money Crashers strives to educate individuals in making wise financial decisions. Their sensible advice covers a range of topics from negotiating your salary to setting up trust funds.
2. Wise Bread promotes “living large on a small budget.” This site has expert advice on choosing credit cards, ways to save money on prescriptions, how to calculate your retirement costs and more.
3. Get Rich Slowly has been around since 2006, and has articles about investing, frugal tips, book reviews, and news on personal finance tools.
4. Consumerism Commentary covers all aspects of personal finance and has many reviews of financial products.
5. Mr. Money Mustache is a 30-something retiree who writes about how we can all live a frugal, yet rewarding life. Rather than offering dry, stodgy financial information, Mr. MM writes about his personal experiences, observations, and opinions, mainly concerning the joys of living frugally and simply.

All of these sites are written in easy-to-understand terms, and do offer very useful advice. So if you're thinking of planning retirement, saving for a vacation after the holidays, or are just tired of ramen noodles, you're bound to find some guidance in these blogs.

Scary or cute? Funny or sexy? Classic or current? Trying to find that perfect Halloween costume can be an agonizing shopping trip, particularly when you're looking for just the right thing in the right size and at the right price.

Here are some of the trending costumes the kids will be wearing during Halloween 2015:

• Superheroes. The newest movies in the Avengers and Fantastic Four franchises came out this year, as well as Ant-Man, so we're bound to see lots of miniature superheroes asking for candy this Halloween.
• Animated characters. Disney princess costumes will always be sought after, but other cartoons inspire costumes as well. Kids will want to dress up as their favorite characters from such shows as Paw Patrol, Doc McStuffins, and the movies Inside Out and Minions.
• Movie characters. Halloween is all about getting to be someone else, and movies provide lots of new personalities to try out. The past year has had a great assortment of characters you're bound to see out trick-or-treating. Look for characters from new movies like Descendants, as well as those continuing sagas like Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean.

And why should the kids get to have all the fun?  These days, adults want to get in on the action, too. What are they wearing, you ask?  Believe it or not, this year you can find adult versions of just about all of the same costumes—which are great options if you're looking for couples costumes. It should be a snap to find coordinating costumes like Shrek and Fiona or superhero duos.
 
Have a safe Halloween—and a fun one!