Itinerary: Festivals of Lights

The eight days of Hanukkah commemorate the recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem from the Syrian Greeks in 165 BC. According to the Talmud, the Jews found only enough consecrated oil to keep the eternal flame burning for one day. But, by some miracle, it burned for eight days, until more oil was obtained. From this comes the tradition of lighting candles in a menorah, and the holiday’s alternate title: Festival of Lights.

Sure, Hanukkah--which begins Friday at sundown--is a minor holiday on the Jewish religious calendar. But how wonderful that the Feast of Lights comes as winter approaches and the days get shorter. This time of year, too, Christmas lights start to appear around houses, shops, streets.

This weekend, enjoy a full lights menu.

Friday

The bays and beaches of Southern California are full of lights this time of year, decorated for the holidays. Two options are the Harbor Lights Christmas Cruises (Alamitos Bay Landing, 140 Marina Drive, Long Beach. $10. [562] 799-7000) at 6 and 8 p.m.; or, Ventura Harbor Village Parade of Lights (Ventura Harbor Village, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. Free. [805] 644-0169), which includes a festival at 4:30 and boat parade at 7 p.m.

Landlubbers might prefer a cruise through the Department of Water and Power and Griffith Park Light Festival (along Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park. 5-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 26. [213] 485-8743). Driving or walking through this mile-long tunnel of lights, you’ll see representations of downtown Los Angeles, the new Staples Center arena and the Hollywood sign.

Saturday

The Wells Fargo Radio Theater premieres “Forgotten Rituals, the Secret Jews of the Southwest” a radio play for Hanukkah and Christmas about the Conversos (Crypto-Jews) of the American Southwest. The romantic comedy, written by Luisa Leschin, will be recorded live at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage (4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. $10 to $15. [323] 667-2000, Ext. 317) at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., and broadcast on KPCC-FM (89.3) on Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

Afterward, you can see some rituals that haven’t been forgotten at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. They have a Hanukkah Celebration scheduled from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the Center Court. (310) 393-8355. Or, if you’re feeling more irreverent, head over to bang, (457 N. Fairfax Ave., [323] 653-6886). There, the comedy-improv troupe will put on its new show, “The Jews vs. the Christians” at 8 p.m. There may not be a lot of lights, but there will be lots of laughs.

Sunday

Spend the morning at the Skirball Cultural Center (2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.), where the recently redesigned galleries have just opened. Be there for the rededication at 11 a.m. and stay for the Hanukkah Festival (see story, Page 46). Also, just opened in the Ruby Gallery is an exhibit on the making of the animated film “The Prince of Egypt.”

The Da Camera Society gets in the holiday spirit with a 3 p.m. concert by the four-woman choral group Tapestry. Under director Laurie Monahan, the group presents “From Darkness to Light,” a concert of music for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s, including medieval chants, Sephardic music and Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols.” As part of the society’s Chamber Music in Historic Places series, the program will be at fabulously gothic Westminster Presbyterian Church (1757 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. $19 to $33. [310] 954-4300).

Wind down the weekend by tuning in KCRW-FM (89.9), where from 7 to 9 p.m. you’ll hear a special Hanukkah edition of “Jewish Stories From the Old World to the New.”