Hanukkah or Chanukah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated eight days and nights. It is often referred to as the Festival of Lights or the Festival of Dedication and its roots can be traced back over two thousand years ago. The holiday is marked by the lighting of a menorah, eating traditional festive food, and giving gifts.
What Is The Jewish Holiday Hanukkah?
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees – a group of Jewish soldiers – following their victory over the Syrian-Greeks in the second century BCE. According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Temple, they only found enough consecrated oil to light the menorah for one day. However, the oil miraculously lasted eight days, enabling them to rededicate the Temple, and so the holiday of Hanukkah was born.
The Customs of Hanukkah
On each day of the holiday, a special prayer is said and an extra candle is lit on the menorah in the household. There are typically one to three blessings said, and then one candle is kindled on the first night, two on the second night, and so on until eight candles are lit on the last night. Another Hanukkah custom is the playing of a game called dreidel – a spinning top with each side labelled with a Hebrew letter. Allyson Chiu, writer for The Washington Post explains that “the letters are an acronym for the phrase ‘A great miracle happened here’”. Other common Hanukkah traditions include eating potato latkes – a type of fried, pancake-like treat – and sufganiot – jelly filled doughnuts – and exchanging presents.
The Meaning of Hanukkah
Though the holiday is celebrated by lighting the menorah, the lights are symbolic of much more than the miracle that is said to have happened. For many Jews, Hanukkah is a time when the ancient Jewish values of religious freedom are remembered and celebrated.
Unsurprisingly, the Festival of Lights has become associated with the warm feeling of family and friends coming together and with gift-giving. During this 8-day period of celebration, children often receive one significant present on each night of the holiday.
The holiday of Hanukkah is a much-anticipated event in the Jewish calendar. It is a joyous and meaningful celebration for many Jews and an important reminder of the struggle for religious freedom. From lighting the ceremonial menorah to eating fried treats, playing the traditional dreidel game and exchanging presents, there are many ways to enjoy the Festival of Lights and keep alive the feeling of religious freedom and family togetherness.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.