▷ What Are The Hanukkah Symbols?

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish tradition that falls on the 25th day of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. It celebrates a time when the Jews in Maccabee-era Jerusalem rose up to reclaim a temple that had been defiled. During Hanukkah, Jews remember to rejoice in the miracle of reclaiming and restoring the temple. With that in mind, celebrating the holiday includes the lighting of the menorah, eating traditional dishes, and playing the dreidel game. Other than the traditions, there are also special symbols associated with Hanukkah.

The Hanukkah Menorah

The Hanukkah Menorah is the most recognizable symbol associated with Hanukkah. It is an eight-pronged candelabrum that is lit each night for the eight nights of the holiday. The menorah is lit in memory of the miracle when when the Maccabees defeated the armies of the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus, and reclaimed the temple. On the first night, one of the eight candles, known as the Shamash, is lit then used to light the other seven candles. On each successive night, another candle is lit until all eight candles representing the eight nights of Hanukkah are lit together.

The Dreidel

The Dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side. The letters spell out a phrase that translates to “A great miracle happened there”. The Dreidel was used as a way for Jews to hide their religious activities while living under Greek and Syrian-Greek rule. While spinning the dreidel, games would be played for coins, nuts, dried fruit, or candy.

The Hanukkah Gelt

Hanukkah Gelt were traditionally coins given to children as part of the Hanukkah celebration. Although coins were used to play the Dreidel game, gift-giving was a practice that was adopted from Christian countries. Today, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil are used instead of real money, although cash is given as well. The gift-giving is done in order to encourage children to learn about charity as part of the Hanukkah spirit.

Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates the courage and bravery of the Jews in Maccabee-era Jerusalem. Many symbols are associated with it, each one bringing to life the spirit of the miracle and miracle of reclaiming and restoring the temple. The Hanukkah menorah reminds us of the story of reclaiming the temple through lighting each of the candles on the first night, and then additional ones each night until all eight candles are lit. The Dreidel is played as a tribute to a hidden tradition of religious activity during a time of oppression, while the Hanukkah Gelt is used to symbolize charity and generosity. Celebrating and understanding these symbols of Hanukkah helps us to remember the courage of those who faced adversity and still upheld their religion and beliefs.

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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.