Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah or Chanukkah) is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight nights and usually occurs in December. It is also called the Festival of Lights, and candles are lit each night on the menorah, which is a kind of branched candlestick.

Origins of the holiday

Hanukkah celebrates the military victory of the Jews over foreign rulers in 164 BC. The Seleucid kingdom from neighboring Syria took control of Jerusalem in about 198 BC. The ruler Antiochus tried to force the Jews to give up their religious practices. When he also took over their Temple they rose up against him. After they defeated the Seleucids, the Jews cleaned, rebuilt, and rededicated the Temple in 164 BC.

According to the Talmud, which is a collection of ancient writings, the Jews found only one small vial of oil when they came into the Temple and went to re-light the lamp that held the eternal light. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight nights, until they were able to obtain more oil.

How Hanukkah is celebrated

The eight nights of Hanukkah are centered more in the home than in the synagogue, which is a Jewish house of worship. People light candles on a menorah by starting with one candle and adding a new candle each night. The menorah has nine branches, including a place for the shammash, which is what is used to light each candle. In addition to the lighting of the candles, gifts are exchanged and children play holiday games during Hanukkah.