Fast Facts About Hanukkah
Jewish Holiday Runs From December 4-12
(Dec. 4) - Hanukkah, also called the “Festival of Lights,” starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. This year, Hanukkah begins on the night of December 4.
CorbisHanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, lasts for eight days and nights.
The Story
The story of Hanukkah begins with the Greek conquest of Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Egypt and Palestine. During the rule of Alexander the Great, the people of these lands were able to practice their own religions and mostly govern themselves. Yet, as time went on, the Hellenistic rule became stronger and restrictions on the Jewish faith were imposed. As the story goes, Antiochus IV, the Greek King of Syria, removed the Jewish rabbi from their holy Temple. He installed his own priest and ordered the Jewish people to worship Zeus. While some Jews obeyed, others, led by Judah Maccabee, resisted. The small army eventually overcame the Greeks and won back their holy Temple. After the victory, the Temple had to be rededicated, but there was only enough purified oil (used to light the menorah) to last for one night. Yet, miraculously, the oil burned for eight days. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Temple. Thus, the holiday is also called the Festival of Rededication.
Traditions
The lighting of the menorah is the most important Hanukkah tradition. The menorah is a candelabrum with nine stands. On each night of Hanukkah, a candle is lit. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit, on the second night, two and so on. The shammus, the large middle candle, is always used to lite the eight other candles. It always remains lit. The candles are added from right to left, but lit from left to right. Another Hanukkah tradition is playing the dreidel, a gambling game played with a square spinning top. Rather then play for money, the players throw in pennies or play with chocolate coins.
What to Eat
Like most holidays, Hanukkah comes with a few traditional foods. The most common Hanukkah food are latkes, or potato pancakes. Fried donuts filled with jelly are also eaten in many Eastern European countries and in Israel.
Gifts
The exchanging of gifts is a secular Hanukkah tradition that bears little religious significance. Often, parents or grandparents give children a small amount of money, called gelt, or larger Hanukkah gifts, though it is unusual for adults to exchange presents with each other
By HEMAL JHAVERI, AOL RESEARCH AND LEARN
