Hanukkah

Hanukkah
source
Name	Hanukkah
Caption	A Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah) with lit candles
Observedby	Jews
Type	Jewish, cultural
Significance	Celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the Miracle of the cruse of oil
Begins	25th day of Kislev
Ends	2nd or 3rd day of Tevet
Date	25 December 2024 (2024)
Celebrations	Lighting candles each night; singing special songs like Ma'oz Tzur; reciting the Hallel prayers; eating foods fried in oil; playing dreidel
Relatedto	Purim, as a rabbinically decreed holiday

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. The holiday is marked by the nightly lighting of a special menorah, festive foods, games, and songs. It celebrates the triumph of religious freedom and the miracle of a small cruse of oil that burned for eight days.

Etymology and significance

The word derives from the Hebrew verb "חנך" (ḥānak), meaning "to dedicate," directly referencing the rededication of the Second Temple. Its significance is twofold, commemorating both a military victory and a theological miracle. The primary historical event is the successful revolt led by Judah Maccabee against the forces of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, which restored Jewish sovereignty. The central spiritual narrative, detailed in the Talmud, recounts the miracle of a single day's worth of ritually pure olive oil found in the desecrated temple lasting for eight full days, enabling the completion of its rededication.

Historical origins

The events that inspired the holiday are set in the 2nd century BCE in Judea, then a province of the Seleucid Empire ruled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus outlawed Judaism and desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem, erecting an altar to Zeus and ordering sacrifices to Greek gods. This sparked the Maccabean Revolt, a guerrilla war led by the priest Mattathias and his son Judah Maccabee. After a series of battles against the Seleucid army, the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem in 164 BCE. They cleansed the temple and re-lit its menorah, an event commemorated as the origin of the festival.

Religious observances

The central religious observance is the nightly lighting of the hanukkiah, a nine-branched menorah. One candle is lit on the first night using a helper candle called the shamash, with an additional candle added each successive night. The lit menorah is traditionally placed in a doorway or window to publicize the miracle. Special blessings, including the Shehecheyanu on the first night, are recited during the lighting. The full Hallel prayer is recited during the Shacharit service, and the Al HaNissim addition is included in the Amidah and Grace after Meals to thank God for the deliverance.

Customs and traditions

Festive customs emphasize joy and the miracle of oil. Foods fried in oil are central, including latkes (potato pancakes) in Ashkenazi tradition and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) in Sephardic and Israeli tradition. A popular game involves spinning a four-sided top called a dreidel (sevivon in Hebrew), which bears the letters nun, gimmel, hey, and shin, an acronym for "A great miracle happened there." The tradition of giving gelt, often chocolate coins or real money, has evolved into the modern practice of gift-giving, particularly in North America. Special songs like Ma'oz Tzur (Rock of Ages) are sung after lighting the candles.

Cultural impact

The holiday holds a prominent place in Jewish culture worldwide, serving as a public affirmation of Jewish identity, especially in the diaspora. In Israel, it is a national holiday marked by public menorah lightings, school vacations, and songs on national radio. Its themes of religious freedom and resistance to oppression have resonated in various historical contexts, from the American Revolution to the Soviet Jewry movement. Hanukkah has also entered the broader cultural landscape in countries like the United States and Canada, often discussed in relation to the Christmas and holiday season, and featured in television, film, and music.

Dates and duration

The festival begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and lasts for eight nights and days, concluding on the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies each year, typically falling between late November and late December. The holiday can, therefore, sometimes coincide with the American holiday of Thanksgiving, as it did in 2013, a rare convergence noted as Thanksgivukkah.

Category:Jewish holidays Category:Kislev observances Category:Winter holidays