Hanukkah is a festival celebrated annually by Jews around the world. It is a time of joy and celebration that contains many traditions and customs. One of them concerns the colours of this festive season. According to the Book of Maccabees, Hanukkah’s traditional colours are actually blue and white. But why?
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Colours of Faith
The blue and white colours of Hanukkah have religious and historical connotations. The same shades are present in the Israeli flag and are meant to reflect the country’s history and religious embodiment. Moreover, blue stands for the spiritual elements of Judaism. Long part of Jewish symbolism, blue is thought to represent the divine and convey a sense of protection and guidance from God.
The Miracle of Oil
Another interpretation of the colours of Hanukkah connects to the core story of the festival. The traditional version of the origin of Hanukkah is the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. After their victory over the Syrian-Greeks, the Jews under Maccabeean command proclaimed the temple’s rededication and performed a solemn ritual relighting the sacred Menorah with only one flask of sanctified oil. Miraculously, it burned for 8 days, and it is this miracle of the oil that is celebrated at the heart of Hanukkah.
The traditional colour of olive oil is yellow, and combined with the symbolic blue, the two colours represent the core story of Hanukkah. Together, blue and yellow form a striking electric colour combination that immediately conveys the joy of this festive holiday.
The Lights of Hanukkah
Hanukkah is renowned for its spectacular lighting of a nine-branched Menorah. According to Talmudic tradition, an orbiting flame should be lit on each night of Hanukkah and a white wax candle is usually lit on the first day. This traditional practice dovetail nicely with the blue and white colors of Hanukkah, and white evokes the pure joy of a festival that brings together family and friends.
Modern Symbolism
Today, in some parts of the world it is common to cover festive tables and dishes in blue and white. Hanukkah candles, ornaments, decorations and sweets are also often designed in these traditional shades to convey the joyous atmosphere of the festival. In particular, the symbols of Hanukkah – candelabras, spinning tops and festive food – are generally coloured in blue and white to signal the presence of the festival.
In conclusion, the traditional blue and white colours of Hanukkah come with significant meaning tied to the festival’s religious and historical significance. Blue stands for the spiritual elements of Judaism and is said to convey a sense of protection and guidance from God. While white candles have long been used in traditional candle-lighting ceremonies to evoke the joy of the holiday with family and friends. The two colours form a striking electric combination that can still be seen in many Hanukkah decorations, dishes and sweet treats today.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.