Hanukkah is an ancient Jewish festival that celebrates the holiday’s long and spiritual history. This festival is held for eight days in wintertime, and it is traditionally celebrated sometime in December or January according to the Hebrew calendar. This unique observance is a commemoration of a momentous event in Jewish history and a celebration of the strength and resilience of the Jewish people.
Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of the Maccabees, Jews who held fast to their religious faith and drove the Syrian-Greeks from the Land of Israel during the era of the second Jewish Temple in the century B.C. According to the Talmud, the Jews discovered that only one pure vial of oil remained to kindle the menorah in the temple. Although only enough oil to keep the menorah burning for one night was found, it miraculously lasted for eight days. This miraculous occurrence is remembered each year during the festival of Hanukkah.To celebrate the Maccabees’ victory, Jews light a candelabrum called a menorah with nine candles, one for each night of the festival. A special candle, the shamash, is set apart from the other eight candles and is used to light the other eight. Jews also take part in traditional activities such as singing and playing games of dreidel, a spinning top with four sides that each has a Hebrew letter on it to represent the phrase “A great miracle happened here.”
In addition to the miraculous origin story, Hanukkah is a celebration of the freedom to practice religion as a people. This is a tradition that was handed down and reinterpreted over the centuries to reflect the modern concerns of Jews living in exile.
Despite its rich spiritual history, Hanukkah has become increasingly commercialized and is sometimes seen as being on par with other winter holiday celebrations. Regardless of this, Hanukkah stands apart as an important festival in Jewish culture and is a reminder of the faith of the Jewish people. By celebrating it in December, we honor our heritage and the brave Maccabees who held fast to their beliefs in difficult times.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.