What is Hanukkah ?
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in the second century BCE and the subsequent rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. “When the Jews recaptured the temple there was only oil sufficient to last for one night. The oil, however, lasted for eight nights. The holiday is celebrated by lighting candles, one additional one for each night of the eight nights that the holiday is celebrated,”
It is a eight-day holiday that begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which falls in November or December in the Gregorian calendar. In 2022 This will be Celebrated From 18 December to 26 Dec. Hanukkah, also Referred to as “eight crazy nights” in the popular “Saturday Night Live” song by Adam Sandler,
During Hanukkah, Jews light a special nine-branched candelabra called a menorah, one candle for each night of the holiday. On the first night, the shamash (helper) candle is used to light one candle on the right side of the menorah, and on each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit until all eight candles are lit on the final night. The menorah is typically placed in a window or other visible location to share the light of the holiday with others.
Hanukkah is a time for celebration, family, and tradition. Many families give gifts to each other, play games, and enjoy traditional foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).