What Is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is spelled a few different ways, and it is known as the festival of lights. It is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the temple after the Maccabean Revolt in Jerusalem during the second century BC. The holiday fluctuates on the calendar, usually falling somewhere around late November to late December.

Menorah

The menorah is what is used to commemorate Hanukkah. It is a candelabrum with nine branches, and one branch is lit each night, until the final day of the celebration. The ninth branch is lit at the beginning and is a separate branch extending above the other branches. This ninth branch is used to light the other ones each night. When the Jews rededicated the temple, supposedly, they only had enough oil to keep the candelabrum lit for one day. However, it stayed lit for eight days. This miracle is the reason why the celebration lasts for eight days.

The celebration

Hanukkah is celebrated with traditional foods, games and the exchange of gifts. The foods are fried in oil in order to commemorate the miracle and lighting of the candelabrum. Potato pancakes are one of the most popular foods made during Hanukkah. A game using four-sided spinning tops is one of the most popular games played. The menorah is usually displaced proudly in a window for others to witness the celebration of the miracle and rededication of the temple.

Hanukkah, the "festival of lights," is a Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the holy temple in Jerusalem. In recent years, the holiday has gained popularity, especially since it falls around the time of Christmas.