▷ Why Is Hanukkah The Festival Of Lights?

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and the celebration of dedication. The holiday celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. For eight days, a special menorah known as the Hanukiah is lit each night to commemorate the miracle of the oil that lasted long enough to last all eight days of Hanukkah. During this time, family and friends gather together for special meals, prayers and gift giving. So, why is Hanukkah the Festival of Lights?

History of Hanukkah

The story of Hanukkah is often referred to as the “miracle of the oil”. In the 2nd century BCE the Jewish people were fighting for their religious freedom against the Greeks who occupied their holy land. Finally, after a three year struggle, they were able to reclaim their temple and restore its rituals. To rededicate the temple the people needed oil to light the Menorah, but they could only find one jar of oil which should have only lasted one night. Miraculously, it lasted for eight days and nights and this event is celebrated each year on Hanukkah as a symbol of religious freedom and courage in the face of adversity.

Symbols of Hanukkah

The most widely recognized symbol of Hanukkah is the menorah, a special nine-branched candelabra which is lit each night of the festival. The menorah is used to symbolize the miracle of the oil which burned for eight days and nights. Other popular symbols of Hanukkah include the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, the latke, a traditional potato pancake, and the sufganiyah, a fried doughnut. People also exchange special gift to one another during the festival as a way of celebrating the joy of the holiday.

The Importance of the Light

At the center of all these traditions is the idea of light being a symbol of hope in difficult times. As followers of the Jewish faith continue to celebrate Hanukkah each year, they are reminded that even in the darkest of times there is still the power of hope and faith. The Menorah which is lit each night of the holiday is meant to be a representation of this hope and to remind us of the miracle that happened so many years ago.

Hanukkah is a holiday full of joyous traditions that bring people of the Jewish faith together to celebrate. From the lighting of the menorah to special meals to exchanging gifts, it is a time of dedicating and celebrating spiritual freedom from thousands of years ago. With the symbolic importance of light representing hope in difficult times, Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights that will continue to be celebrated for years to come.

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