What is Chanukkah?

Chanukkah, like all Jewish holidays, does not appear on the same days each year; that is because the Hebrew or Jewish calendar uses a lunar cycle with every month having 29 or 30 days. Every so often a "leap month" must be added so that things fall back into line. According to the Hebrew calendar Chanukkah begins on Kislev 25 and runs for eight days. In the Jewish religion the day begins at sundown and that is when the candles are lit. This year Kislev 25 begins on the evening of December 11; Chanukkah concludes on December 19.

Chanukkah - חנוכה - began over 20 centuries ago in the second century BCE (Before Common Era) when the Seleucids, Syrian-Greek, army tried to conquer the Holy Land. A small group of Jews called the Maccabees who were led by a man named Judah were victorious and saved the Temple. But there was a big problem; the Temple needed to be rededicated and purified. Chanukka is Hebrew for dedication. In the process of cleaning up and relighting the eternal light, only enough purified oil for one day was found and it took eight days to purify more oil. But by some miracle that little bit of oil lasted for eight days.

On that day the Jews proclaimed Nes Gadol Hayah Sham - נס גדול היה שם - a great miracle happened there. As a result Chanukkah is celebrated for eight days with the lighting of candles, eating fried foods, playing with the dreidl, and the giving of gifts.

Chanukkah Traditions
Lighting of the candles - A special candle menorah is used that has nine spots for candles instead of the usual seven. The center spot is for the shamas or helper candle used to light the others. On the first night a candle is placed in the spot to the extreme right, and one is added each night from right to left; however, the candles are lit from left to right.

Eating Latkas - The latka is a potato pancake fried in oil and usually eaten with sour cream and/or applesauce. Some countries eat fried doughnuts instead of latkas.

Dreidl - The dreidl is a top with four sides; each side has a Hebrew letter - Nun, Hey, Gimmel, Shem. It is used in a game usually played by children involving pennies, candy, etc. As the dreidl falls the letter facing up tells the player what to do; num = none, hey = take half of the pot, gimmel = give (put one in), and sham = take all of the pot. In the days when studying Torah was forbidden, students would hide in caves in order to study. When the soldiers came round the students pulled out the dreidls and began to play in order to hide their true activities.

The giving of gifts started out as giving only money - geld in Yiddish - and has evolved into the giving of gifts and/or geld. Small chocolate coins covered in gold - Chanukkah geld - is popular among children.

Chanukkah is also seen as a holiday to donate to charity. Some groups believe in donating a little more each day of Chanukkah.

Chanukkah is a joyous time especially for the younger ones who can tell the story of how it all began but look forward to the candle lighting, singing, and gifts...and of course, the latkas!