What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah, also spelled ‘Chanukah’ is a holiday in the Jewish religion.  It is known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and lasts for eight days.  The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century and is notable for the lighting of the nine light candelabrum known as the ‘Menorah’.

Origins

The story of why Jews celebrate Hanukkah commences with the victories of the Macabees over the forces of Antiochus IV.  According to scripture, there was only enough oil to burn in the Temple’s lamp, known as the ‘Eternal Flame’, for one day.  Miraculously, the oil burned for a full eight days, the length of time it took to prepare new olive oil for burning.  In an alternative version, the eight days was the length of time it took to journey by foot to and from the nearest temple to obtain oil.  Regardless, each implies a ‘divine’ interference that extended the burning of the oil for far longer than was naturally expected.  The holiday occurs starting on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew Calendar which occurs from late November to late December on the Gregorian Calendar.

Customs

The Primary custom that takes place during the holiday is the lighting of a special nine candle candelabrum known as the ‘Menorah’.  Each of the eight nights of the holiday, an additional candle is lit along with each of the candles preceding until a full eight candles are lit on the last night.  Traditionally each candle is lit using the center, ninth candle known as the ‘Shamash’.  Instead of each candle being lit directly, a prayer is said while lighting the ‘Shamash’ which is then used to light the additional candles for each additional night.

Through the centuries the Menorah has evolved as a decorative item and many beautiful designs, often handed down through generations have been crafted and shown off during the holiday.  While traditionally the holiday of Hanukkah was not considered as significant and important as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover, in the western world, due to its proximity to Christmas, the holiday has become popular due to its seasonal nature. 

Celebrating the festive nature of the holiday, several other customs are part of the holiday.  These include the playing of the traditional game of ‘Dreidel’, a four sided top with Jewish letters on each side.  Also, the eating of such traditional foods as potato ‘latkas’ or pancakes and the giving of Hanukkah ‘gelt’ or money to the children of the family.  In more modern times the giving of ‘gelt’ has evolved into the giving of presents on each of the eight nights of the holiday, perhaps both a nod to the Christmas holiday at which time it often occurs around and also a commercial permutation symbolic of modern times.  For more great information please visit Hanukah.me.