Hanukkah refers to the Jewish festival which begins on Kislev 25th (December according to the Gregorian calendar) and ends eight days after. The ceremony is observed to uphold the ideals of Judaism. It also commemorates the rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem. Jews light up candles on each of the eight days. Despite the ceremony not being mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures, it is still widely observed by most people who follow the Jewish faith. Some of the faithful often refer to the ceremony as Chanukah, which means dedication. The name reminds Jews of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after defeating the Syrian-Greeks in 165 BCE. Some of the observers also refer to the ceremony as the Festival of Lights, to signify the numerous candles that are lit at the start of the holiday.
At the onset of the 2nd century BC, the Holy Land was under the rule of the Seleucids. These Syrian-Greek rulers tried to force the people of Israel to observe Greek culture and also follow their beliefs. This was in violation of what the Greeks believed in, and as a result, they decided to fight to maintain the belief in the observation of Mitzvah as well as the worship of God. To fight against their rulers, a small band of faithful decided to fight the Seleucids despite being very poorly armed. Under the leadership of Judah the Maccabee, the group was able to defeat one of the mightiest armies on earth at the time. To crown it all, they were also able to recapture the Holy Temple of Jerusalem and rededicate it to the service of God. Considering the king of the Seleucids Antiochus IV had reigned over the kingdom of Israel and dishonoured the holy second temple, most of the olive oil that was to be used in the celebration of this victory had been contaminated by the Greeks. It, therefore, proved challenging to light the Temple’s Menorah. Miraculously, the group was able to find a single cruse of olive oil that was spared from contamination by the Greeks. According to the Talmud, Judah the Maccabee and the rest of the people who took part in the rededication of the temple witnessed the olive oil that was meant to last for a single day last for eight days instead. This allowed them enough time to go and get more olive oil as the lights of the Menorah were not supposed to go off. The candle holder which has seven branches represents knowledge and creation.
The Hanukkah celebration revolves around the lighting of the nine-branched menorah. The process of kindling is commonly referred to as hanukiah in Hebrew. Noticeably, a candle is lit on each of the eight days, including the Shamash or the helper candle lighting the other eight candles and given distinction, e.g. different location from the others. As Jews light the candles, they usually recite blessings. A song is also sung before the menorah is lit while traditional songs are sung after completion of the entire ritual. The whole routine is typically carried out in a window to act as a reminder for others about the miracle that is the inspiration behind the holiday. The menorah is lit in synagogues and other public places.
Apart from the lighting of the candles, the traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Jam filled donuts known as sufganiyot are common as well as the latkes, which are potato pancakes. These foods are cooked to show the abundance of oil, which was showcased by the miracles that were witnessed during the original rededication of the Second Temple. The food is also accompanied by various games such as the dreidel which involves the spinning of a four-sided top bearing with the Hebrew words nun, gimmel, hei, and shin. The words are acronyms for ‘a miracle happened here’ and is played for a pot of coins, nuts, or any other rewards. The winner or the loser is determined by which letter the dreidel lands on after it is spun.
Today, children and people, in general, receive gifts to commemorate the celebration. Chanukkah gelt (Yiddish for Chanukkah money), as they are popularly referred to, involves gifting money to children for positive behavior and devotion towards Torah study. These gifts enable children to participate in giving tzedakah, which is a charity for needy people in society. Some children are given chocolate instead of money for their proper behavior. Unlike other celebrations that are carried out in the country, the festival is not Sabbath-like, and as such, there is no refrain for individuals to stop doing activities that they would not carry out during the Sabbath. Those who adhere to the celebration have the freedom to go to work and may only leave early so that they get the chance to kindle the lights when night falls. From the second day of the festival, children do not go to school for the remainder of the week. This allows them a chance to experience the celebrations. In places where open flames are not allowed, electric flames can be used. The specific placing of the light on the doorway or on the windows is so that the light can illuminate without the house as opposed to within it.
Hanukkah has great significance among believers of the Jewish religion. Placing of the menorah at the door or at the window is symbolic since it shows the desire to give the Chanukah miracle a very high profile. Some Jewish historians suggest that it is meant to laud militarism.
In North America, the practice of gift-giving goes a long way to assist the needy as the money that is collected is generally given to charity. The children also find the festival significant as they celebrate the holiday during the same period as Christmas and do not feel left out. Additionally, the tradition of giving gelt as gifts for children has changed in many societies in substitution for other gifts that Jewish children can enjoy.
In the U.S., the festival has taken over the Passover and is used by Americans as a symbol of their Jewish identity. The celebration is also a resistance to oppression, especially when it limits the religious freedom of individuals.
The dates for the celebration of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew calendar. Typically, the festival begins on the 25th day of Kislev and ends on the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet. The disparity is usually associated with the fact that the month of Kislev is often 29 or 30 days. On November 28th, 2013, Hanukkah was on the same day as the American Thanksgiving. Coincidentally, this is the second time this occurred since 1899 when Abraham Lincoln first made Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. The chances of the same happening in the foreseeable future are less due to the differences between the Gregorian and the Jewish calendars. Noticeably, The contrast is brought about by the difference in the length of different months across different years. This holiday is observed in Australia, Canada, China, England, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Russia, United States, Yemen, among others.
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