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Hanukkah and the cheese of Judith
Eight nights of lights, when some families fry cheese latkes in memory of Judith, alongside the potato kind.
Cheeses for Hanukkah and the cheese of Judith
Hanukkah is known for foods fried in oil, recalling the oil that burned for eight days in the Temple. A second, older custom is to eat cheese. It is linked to the story of Judith, told in medieval Hanukkah texts, who fed the enemy general salty cheese and wine until he slept, and then killed him to save her town. Italian Jewish communities fry ricotta pancakes and bake cassola, a Roman ricotta cake, and Ashkenazi families make cheese latkes with farmer cheese. The custom is less widespread than potato latkes but is kept by many families.
The cheeses
Also part of it, and being written: Farmer cheese (Folded into Ashkenazi cheese latkes.).
Written by the EveryCheese desk with AI assistance. Background: "Hanukkah" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.