Hanukkah 2023: Celebration and traditions of the Jewish festival of lights

Hanukkah, a Jewish festival of lights, begins on December 7, celebrated with menorah lighting, prayers, and fried food. Learn more here!

Hanukkah, also known as the "festival of lights," is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple over 2,000 years ago after the Jews defeated the occupying Greek armies. The holiday begins at nightfall on December 7 and ends on December 15, and is celebrated with menorah lighting, special prayers, and fried food.

The main observance of Hanukkah involves lighting the candles of a menorah, a candelabra with eight branches, one for each night of the holiday, and a ninth candle in the center. The candles are lit one per night until the menorah is fully illuminated at the end of the eight-day period, symbolizing the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

In addition to the menorah lighting, celebrants often cook fried foods such as latkes (fried potato pancakes) with applesauce, rugelach pastries, and deep-fried or jelly doughnuts. While gift-giving is not a traditional part of Hanukkah, it is customary to give money to charity, increasing the amount each day as more candles are lit. Children also receive "gelt" (money) and "dreidels," four-sided spinning tops with Hebrew inscriptions, which symbolize the miracle of the oil.

The holiday's Hebrew name, "Hanukkah," means "dedication," and it is a time for reflection and religious observance. It is a time to remember the historical significance of the rededication of the Temple and to celebrate the miracles that occurred. The holiday is also a time for families and communities to come together, share meals, and engage in traditional activities.

Overall, Hanukkah is a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair, and faith over adversity. It is a time to honor tradition, share joy with loved ones, and reflect on the enduring significance of the holiday.