Hanukkah is a special 8-day festival celebrated by Jews all over the world. It marks the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem following the successful revolt of the Maccabees against the Greeks in 165 BCE. The story of how this celebration came to be is one of faith, courage, and history.
The Story of Hanukkah
The story of Hanukkah begins with the Greeks. Antiochus IV, the king of the Seleucid Empire, was in control of Judea and the temple in Jerusalem. He wanted the Jewish people to worship Greek gods and to follow Greek laws. He outlawed religious practices, such as circumcision and the study of Torah, and he desecrated the temple by having it rededicated in honor of Zeus.
When the Maccabee family led a revolt against this rule, many other Jewish families joined them. After 3 years of fighting, they were victorious, and the Jews regained control of the temple in Jerusalem. When the Maccabees returned to the temple, they found it had been looted and the holy menorah had been desecrated. They cleaned and sanctified the temple and lit the menorah with only one flask of pure oil that they found. According to Jewish tradition, the flask should only have enough oil to last for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight days – enough for them to find and prepare more oil.
To commemorate this miracle, the Maccabees established the festival of Hanukkah, which lasts eight days and is celebrated each year. During Hanukkah, families kindle a special nine-branched menorah (called a Hanukiah) and light one candle each night for eight nights. As a reminder of the miracle of the oil, many families add an extra candle for each night of Hanukkah and use it to kindle the others.
Traditional Hanukkah Celebrations
Hanukkah celebrations include specific traditions and symbols that represent the holiday. Traditional foods, games, and gifts are integral to the celebration. Common Hanukkah foods include potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot). Many families play games such as the dreidel or gelt, a game of chance played with coins. And gifts are commonly exchanged on each day of Hanukkah.
Modern Hanukkah Celebrations
Modern Hanukkah celebrations differ greatly from traditional ones. Today, Hanukkah is celebrated with a mix of old and new traditions. For instance, many families purchase electric Hanukiahs instead of traditional ones, receive gift cards instead of gelt, and eat vegan latkes instead of traditional potato pancakes.
Some families might even add a Santa hat and present to the Hanukiah to represent the “miracle of Christmas.” While it’s important to remember our history and celebrate with traditional Hanukkah traditions, it’s also great to be creative and incorporate modern interpretations into the holiday.
In conclusion, Hanukkah was created to commemorate the victory of the Maccabees against the Greeks and their reclaiming of the temple in Jerusalem. The unique aspects of the holiday, such as the Hanukiah, latkes, and gelt, all represent the miracle of this event. Although traditional Hanukkah celebrations remain popular, modern interpretations of the holiday, such as vegan latkes or a present atop the Hanukiah, give us an opportunity to be creative and remember the past even while looking to the future.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.