Hanukkah or Chanukah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated for eight days and nights, usually falling in late November to late December, according to the Hebrew calendar.
The word "Hanukkah" stems from the Hebrew word "Chanukah," meaning "dedication" or "inauguration." The festival is also known as the Festival of Lights, highlighting the central ritual of lighting the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum.
During Hanukkah, one candle is lit on the menorah for each night of the festival until it is fully illuminated on the eighth night. This symbolic act signifies the miracle that took place when a small amount of oil lasted for eight days in the rededicated temple's eternal light.
The festival is characterized by various customs and traditions. Families gather to light the menorah, recite specific blessings, and sing traditional songs. Another customary practice is spinning the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters, which is played as a gambling game using nuts, chocolates, or coins.
Hanukkah also holds a strong culinary tradition. Fried foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled donuts), are enjoyed during this festival, symbolizing the oil that miraculously burned for eight days.
Overall, Hanukkah is a joyous Jewish holiday that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and religious freedom, spreading warmth, unity, and hope to the Jewish community and beyond.
