Gingerbread House Smash.

I’m a latecomer to Judaism.  I grew up with Christmas and converted before I married Josh.  Although some people in my conversion class had a hard time giving up a Christmas tree, I had no such problem.   When I married Vin, I got launched back into full-blown “Deck the Halls”.  I call it “Vin’s House of Christmas” — from the 9-foot tree to the reindeer-and Santa-embroidered pillows.  The house is an homage to red & green.

I carved out the dining room for blue & white, though.  We call it “Erica’s Hall of Hanukkah”.  I also run a party for the kids — and adults — to celebrate one of our 8 nights.

A few years ago, Vin had purchased a 2-foot high gingerbread house.  It sat on MY dining room table — in the “Hall of Hanukkah” for weeks, until it was hard & brittle with age.  I wanted to throw it out until I had a better idea:  why not let the kids “smash it” as part of the Hanukkah party?

So the tradition began,  “SMASH THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE”.

And it turns out Josh’s little boy Justin (age 7) is one of the biggest proponents of the “Smash”.  Here’s my note to them, thanking them for a bottle of Conundrum (Red) Josh discovered.   (In photo:  Josh, Jamie (and Justin’s older sister), Erica, Vin – eight years ago at Jamie’s 16th birthday before Justin was born).