Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an 8-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Each year Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, which occurs around December or early November in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Hanukkah begins at sunset on December 10th and will end at nightfall on December 18th.
Hanukkah’s 8 days are marked by special prayers, the lighting of candles on a menorah or hanukkiah, gift exchange, and singing and storytelling. A special food dish, made of potato pancakes called latkes, is eaten during Hanukkah in remembrance of the Maccabee’s oil-based victory.Table of Contents
The Liturgy of the Holiday
The traditional liturgy of the holiday of Hanukkah usually begins after nightfall on the first night of the holiday. Prayers are recited and the hanukkiah is lit from right to left with an extra, ninth candle called a shamash. On each night, another candle is lit, until the hanukkiah is filled with all eight candles, representing the 8 days of celebration.
The Story of Hanukkah
The story of Hanukkah goes back over 2000 years to the time of the Maccabean Revolt. The Jews living in Judea, under the rule of Antiochus, were forced to abandon their cultural and religious activities. The Maccabees were a small group of Jews who rose up to fight against the massive Syrian-Greeks army and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem as a sacred place for the Jewish people.
The Miracle of the Oil
When the Temple was reclaimed, there was only a single, small bottle of oil to light the Menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum. It was enough oil to last for only one day, but miraculously, it lasted for 8 days until more oil could be found. The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil that lasted for 8 days.
Traditions of Hanukkah
Hanukkah is celebrated with several traditional activities and foods. The spinning of the dreidel is a popular activity among children in which a small four-sided top is spun with the symbols of the famous phrase “A great miracle happened there!”
- Latkes are potato pancakes, enjoyed by adults and children alike. They are fried in oil, a reminder of the miracle of the oil mentioned in the holiday story.
- Chocolate coins, covered in gold foil, are given as a way to remember the Talmudic story of Judah Maccabee discovering money to finance his army and fight against the Syrian-Greeks.
- Sufganiyot (doughnuts) has also become a popular tradition of Hanukkah in Israel.
Hanukkah is an important holiday for Jews around the world, one that celebrates freedom, love, and hope. Each year, families come together to sing, pray, celebrate, and enjoy the holiday season. Hanukkah reminds us of the Maccabees’ courage and of the miracle of the oil, as well as the importance of dedicating ourselves to freedom and to supporting and uplifting one another in times of challenge. As this year’s Hanukkah festivities begin on December 10th, may the light of the holiday bring new hope and happiness into our lives.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.