nittel nacht

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Pronunciations

nittel nacht (NI-tel nahcht) listen

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Definitions

  • n. Christmas Eve.

Example Sentences

  • “The Rebbe Rashab once said that the reason for not studying Torah on Nittel nacht is that ”one should not elicit an increase in life-force.” This restriction on study applies only until midnight.” (source)

  • "There are additonal customs associated with Nittel Nacht, such as eating garlic to ward off the demons (particularly you know whose), praying Aleinu out loud (since that is the prayer against idolatry), and not going to sleep all night." (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • ניטל נאַכט nitl nakht. The Yiddish word "nitl" comes from Late Latin (dies) natalis 'nativity (day)' or Medieval Latin natale (domini) 'birth of (our lord)' (Steinmetz, Dictionary of Jewish Usage).

      • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)
      • Hasidim

      Regions

      • North America
      • Australia / New Zealand
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

      Alternative Spellings

      nitel nakht, nitel nacht, nitl nakht, nitl nacht

Notes

  • "Nittel Nacht observances remain in Hasidic communities, taking place either for the last six or 12 hours on Dec. 24 or, for Hasidic sects with origins in Russia or Ukraine, for the six or 12 hours before the Eastern Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7."

    (source)

    A folk etymology is that "nitl" is an acronym for Nisht Yidn Toyre Lernen 'Jews don't study Torah,' based on the custom of not studying Torah on Christmas.

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