Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday celebrated each year for eight days. It commemorates the miracle of a can of oil to last for eight days when the Jews needed it to light a menorah in the temple. In modern times, Hanukkah is a joyous occasion for the celebration of family, faith, and delicious foods.
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How Does Hanukkah Work?
Hanukkah takes place over the course of eight days, beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month, Kislev. Each night, during the festival, a single candle is lit in the Hanukkiah, which is a special Menorah. This one candle is lit in commemoration of the original miracle of the single cruse of oil that kept the menorah lit for an unprecedented 8 days. On the first night, a single candle is lit, followed by a second candle on night two and so on and so forth until all 8 candles are lit.
The Flame Itself
The candle lit each night is known as the Shamash or watchman candle. It serves to light the other candles brought in during the evening and is typically placed in the central, highest position on the Menorah. The Shamash is usually made from a different material than the other candles, like wax or a thicker material so it stands out.
Lighting the Hanukkiah
The traditional way to light the Menorah is to light one additional candle each night, beginning from the right. This kindles the lights one at a time from right to left and only the newest light is lit from the existing ones. It’s also customary to bless oil or wax candles and have wine available to celebrate music and sing songs.
Most Popular Hanukkah Traditions
- Gift Giving – Today, it is typical to exchange gifts on each night of Hanukkah in commemoration of the oil that lasted eight days.
- Playing Dreidel – A dreidel is a small four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters–nun, gimel, hei and shin–on each side. A traditional game is played with the dreidel in which participants bet items such as coins or candy.
- Eating Foods Fried in Oil – Eating meals fried in oil is a major part of the Hanukkah celebration. Greek-style donuts known as sufganiyot, latkes and other potato dishes, and various cheeses are all popular options.
Hanukkah is a special holiday that commemorates 215 years in which a single cruse of oil burned in the temple. Though times have changed since then, the modern celebration still includes the symbolic lighting of the Menorah as well as gift giving, playing dreidel, and eating foods cooked in oil. While traditions vary based on family and community, the Festival of Lights continues to offer a time for faith and celebration.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.