Hanukkah, also known as “The Festival of Lights”, is an eight day Jewish celebration of religious freedom and a commemoration of a miraculous event in which a small amount of oil kept a flame burning for 8 days. It is celebrated each year during the Hebrew month of Kislev which usually falls between late November and late December. The festival is marked by rituals of prayer, the lighting of menorahs, the eating of fried foods and the playing of traditional games.
The origins of the festival of Hanukkah can be traced back to the second century BCE when the Jewish people were under the oppression of Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus issued decrees that would have outlawed the practice of the Jewish religion and replaced it with pagan beliefs. However, the Jewish people under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus revolted and were successful in reclaiming and rededicating the temple in Jerusalem. A crucial part of the dedication ceremony was the relighting of the temple’s menorah.
The miracle of Hanukkah occurred when the Maccabees were outnumbered, yet they found one vessel of oil that only had enough to keep the flame burning for one day. However, the light of the menorah miraculously stayed alight for 8 days, and this event is celebrated by the festival of Hanukkah.
The Symbolism of Hanukkah
Hanukkah is closely associated with the symbolism of light. The festival of Hanukkah is often called the “Festival of Lights” since each night of the holiday a candle is lit in the nine-branch menorah. The personal menorahs lit in each home represents the light of the temple in Jerusalem. The additional candle lit each night on the menorah, known as the “shamash”, represents a commemoration and hope for rededication of the temple and freedom from oppression in the future.
The symbolism of light is also seen through the ritual of eating fried foods in celebration of the holiday such as latkes and sufganiyot. The foods are fried in oil which acts as a reminder of the one day’s worth of oil that was needed to light the menorah in the temple in Jerusalem.
Traditional Hanukkah Celebrations
Traditional Hanukkah celebrations include playing traditional games such as spinning the dreidel or exchanging presents with friends and family. The dreidel is a four-sided top with a different Hebrew letter on each side that is spun on the floor. Some countries also have traditional Hanukkah meals such as eaten in Israel, where the holiday feast includes latkes, sufganiyot and cheeses.
Conclusion
Hanukkah is an eight day celebration of religious freedom and serves as an inspirational reminder of hope and courage. The festival of Hanukkah is characterized by the lighting of the menorah, the eating of fried foods and the playing of traditional games such as spinning the dreidel. Hanukkah is a joyous celebration that serves as an important reminder to the Jewish people of the courage and tenacity needed to stand against oppression.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.