Channukah, Chanukkah, Hannuka, Hannukah–all are the same thing: the Jewish Festival of Lights. Don’t get too confused; there are many ways of spelling the name, because it is a Hebrew word, not English. However you spell it, it’s the same thing 😉
Channukah lasts for 8 nights, usually starting in December. The date varies somewhat each year, because the Hebrew calender follows the lunar cycles. This year, Channukah started on the night of Friday, December 11. You may have heard that Channukah is the Jewish version of Christmas, but this is not the case. Besides the fact that during both, people spend time with close friends and family, eat food, and open presents, they are not alike at all.
The story of Channukah goes as so: two thousand years ago in Syria, the Jewish people were ruled by the evil king Antiochus. He forced the Jews out of the Temple in Jerusalem and ordered them to worship the Greek gods. Those who refused were to be killed. However, this did not keep the Jews from following their beliefs. The Jews were led by a father and his fives sons, called the Maccabees, and together, they fought the Syrians. The Maccabees victoriously won the Temple back, but returned to find it filled with altars and Greek idols. The Jewish people worked hard to repair the Temple and when it was ready for services, they could only find enough oil to keep the Eternal Light–a seven branched menorah–burning for one day. It would take another eight days to manufacture new pure olive oil. The miracle of Channukah is that the small amount of oil kept the flame going for eight nights!
This miracle of light is remembered by lighting a menorah, a special candle holder with places for 9 candles. Why 9, you may be asking. The miracle was 8 days, not 9! To answer the question, the ninth place is raised above the other eight and has a special purpose. The candle placed in the raised location is called the shamash, meaning helper. The shamash is the candle which “helps” to light the others. One candle is added each night of Channukah and a special blessing is said.
It is traditional on Channukah to eat much fried food in remembrance of the oil that was used in the Temple. Latkes are fried potato pancakes that are usually eaten with sour cream and apple sauce (here’s a recipe!). Donuts are also a very yummy fried food that goes well with Channukah ;). Children (and those of us older than “children”) play Dreidel, a spinning top game (click here for more info and the rules of the game!) where gelt is bet. Gelt is Yiddish for money. On Channukah, kids receive gelt as a gift on some nights–some actual money, some as chocolate coins wrapped in foil :D. Some families give presents every night, while others only give on the first or last night. Channukah is also an important time to be thinking of others and to give to charity. It’s quite the party!
So, which ever holiday(s) you celebrate at this time of year, make sure you keep warm, spend time with your friends and family, and enjoy the snow! Happy Holidays! ♥