On the London Underground or the Paris Metro, only a brave passenger would dress as a Jewish version of Santa Claus. Such an outfit would risk stares, grumbles about Israeli policies, or worse. Yet in Philadelphia on December 8th, as subway trains filled with youthful, costumed Santas-revellers at an annual drinking festival-few glanced twice at the young woman in robes and hat of blue and white fur, embroidered with a menorah, or sacred candelabra. Flanked by friends clad in red and white, her fancy-dress paid homage to Hanukkah, a once-obscure Jewish festival that-conve-niently falling in December-has been built up to become a response to the "December dilemma", the puzzle posed for non-Christians by Christmas.
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