Share your Christmas decorations with us!!

Careful, or I would have to moderate you.

And so I don't have to moderate myself.......

 

An interesting question with an even more interesting answer. I don't think this is really off topic as the lights are used at this time of year.
They are first mentioned in the old testament in Exodus and in Numbers and other books. Also mentioned in the new testament in the book of revelation.

I don't think your one dates back that far.

It's called a Menorah and was used in the ancient temples (synagogues) in Judea (Israel). It's the symbol of Judaism but is used in many other religions including African, Asian and even in the Eastern Orthodox Church (Catholic).

The Jewish religion uses a nine branched menorah outside of the synagogues (seven is restricted for use in the synagogue by the Jewish civil law, the Talmud). The nine branched one is used to celebrate Chanukah (Festival of Lights) and legend has it that it dates back to the destruction and rebuilding of the Second Temple 200 years BC.

The legend goes that when they were rededicating the Temple they found that after all the battles there was only a small amount of pure olive oil left as all the others supplies were tainted. They lit the seven branched menorah but it only had enough oil for one day and it would take a week to purify more oil. The small amount of oil lasted for eight days.

The nine branched menorah commemorates that by lighting candles (one the first day, two the second day etc.) for the eight days. The centre branch is used to hold a candle just for lighting the other candles.

Chanukah dates vary, compared to our calendar, as the ancient people used lunar months. The celebration starts on the 25th of the month of Kislev so this can be anywhere between November and December. This year it was the 2nd to 10th of December.

So Pete's menorah could have come from anywhere.

 

It's Swedish

 

Good afternoon Christmas Cards from the grandchildren

 

It must have been the Swedish B&Q The Swedish company Konstsmide are still making them!

So it's not one of the 2,000 year old versions