Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is rich in history and is celebrated for eight days and nights every year. It is a joyous and festive time for Jewish people, and it is full of traditions and rituals that bring families and friends together. But why is this holiday called Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is Hebrew for “dedication”. This is because the holiday marks the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the Maccabees around 163 BCE. The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebels who had fought against the forces of the Hellenistic Syrian-Greek Empire. They were a success in reclaiming the temple, which had been turned into a Greek Temple of Zeus by the Seleucids.The most famous part of the Hanukkah tradition is the lighting of the menorah. According to legend, when the Maccabees reclaimed the temple, they found only enough oil to light a menorah (a style of candelabra) for one night. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight nights, allowing the Maccabees to rededicate the temple and properly observe the holiday. To commemorate this miracle, Jews have celebrated Hanukkah for over two thousand years, lighting a menorah each night for eight days.
Another popular tradition of the holiday is the exchanging of gifts. Although this isn’t a custom that goes back to biblical times, it is still a wonderful way to bring people close for the holiday. Gifts can include chocolate coins, called gelt, games, books, toys, food, and much more.
Hanukkah is an important holiday not only for its historical and religious significance, but for the joy it brings to people throughout the world. Lighting the menorah for a full eight days and exchanging gifts to show respect and kindness to others exemlify this joy for everyone to share. Hanukkah is a holiday that connects us all in an atmosphere of love, peace, and dedication, and it is due to these traits that it is still celebrated to this day.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.