Oy, er ist azoy zis!
(Google tells me that azoy zis = so cute.)
You know, seeing that cute photo of Carson again in his Chanukah garb just reminds me how much I love that so many of this season's festivals are fire festivals. I was told early on these likely originated from the early Celtic (wiccan? pagan?) festivals at the winter solstice lighting fires on the mountaintops on the shortest night of the year asking the Sun God to return again. I have no idea if this is true or not, but I like the imagery very much. Many of the later holidays like Chanukah and Christmas incorporate fire symbolism into them as well (the eternal light, the yule log, etc).
Again, I don't know how much of this is historically true or just legend, but I like the idea all the same since to me the solstice (Dec. 21) is the most important day, the earth's turning of seasons, and the "real" new year.
Happy fire festivals, all!