▷ Why Hanukkah Is Celebrated?

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most celebrated and important festivals in the Jewish year. This holiday is celebrated for eight days, recalling a miraculous event that happened to the Jewish people centuries ago. For many Jewish families, Hanukkah marks a time of special joy, with traditions like decorating the home, eating fried foods, and exchanging gifts. In spite of its religious significance, Hanukkah is often seen as a secular holiday – a time for celebrating the triumph of light and music in the darkness of winter.

Why Is Hanukkah Celebrated?

The core of Hanukkah is the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees in the year 165 BCE. The Jews faced persecution under Greek rule; the Greek king Antiochus sought to impose Hellenistic religious practices on the Jewish people, desecrating and then demolishing the Temple. In response, a small band of Jewish revolutionaries led by the family of Judah Maccabee fought against the king’s forces. The Maccabees were victorious, and the Temple was cleansed and restored, becoming a symbol of Jewish freedom.

The Miracle of the Oil

Upon the Temple’s rededication, the Jews needed to light the menorah, an important part of the Temple ritual. The only oil that could be found to light the lamp was a tiny cruse, enough to last only a single night. Miraculously, the small amount of oil lasted for eight days, allowing the lamp to burn continually until more oil could be brought. To commemorate this miracle, a special Menorah known as a Hanukkiyah or Chanukiah is lit during Hanukkah, with lights increasing each night until the full menorah is lit on the eighth night.

Other Celebrations

Beyond the lighting of the menorah, Hanukkah is also celebrated with a number of rituals and special customs. Families often play the dreidel game, eating traditional fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot, and giving gifts to children in the form of gelt or chocolate coins.

Hanukkah is also celebrated in many local customs, which can differ from family to family or from region to region. In some places, Hanukkah is celebrated with a yearly parade or festival. For others, it is a time of special meals shared with extended family and friends.

Hanukkah is a celebration of resilience and faithfulness, of light in the darkness. Through song, prayer, and shared traditions, it is a time for us to remember our past and look to the future. We light the candles as reminders of the miracle of that one small cruse of oil; in each flame, we find a symbol of hope, courage, and renewal.

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