Some of your friends celebrate it. Adam Sandler wrote a song about it. You even see decorations this time of year — but, what, exactly, is it?

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that honors a miracle that occurred during the re-dediation of the second temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE. A lamp with only one days’ worth of oil was lit, yet the flame continued to burn for eight days and nights. This is why a candelabra called a Menorah features eight candles. A new candle is lit every evening throughout the holiday, and games like Dreidle are played while songs like Ma’oz Tzur are sung. Hanukkah is also known as the “Festival of Lights.”

The Numbers

1: Days’ worth of consecrated olive oil.

8: Days and nights.

25th: of the month of Kislev (between November and December).

165: BCE marks the Hanukkah or re-dedication of the temple.

IV: Antiochus was in power during the Maccabean Revolt.

1st and 2nd: Books of Maccabees tells the story of Hanukkah.

The Tchotchkes

The Dreidle:

A four-sided spinning top game of chance is played by children. Each side bares a letter which forms an acronym, Nes Gadol Hayah Sham – “a great miracle happened there.” Coin wit chocolate inside called gelt are entered into a pot during game play.
NUN: The player gets nothing.
GIMEL: The player gets everything in the pot.
HEY: The player gets half the pieces in the pot.
SHIN: The player adds a game piece (gelt) to the pot.

The Presents:

Hanukkah is actually a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar and its gift-giving has elevated due to the proximity to Christmas.

The Nosh:

Foods fried in oil like Latkes and Sufganiyah are customary on Hanukkah. The Latke is a potato pancake and the Sufganiyah is a doughnut like jelly filled pastry. Hanukkah is also a dairy oriented kosher holiday.

The Mensch:

Judah Maccabee led the revolt that defeated the Syrians and reclaimed the temple for the Jewish people. Nicknamed the “hammer,” he is considered one of the greatest warriors in Jewish history. Mensch means “a person of integrity.” A mensch is someone who is responsible, has a sense of right and wrong and is the sort of person other people look up to.

The Menorah

The Shamash: 

The Shamash or guardian (the middle candle, usually elevated and separate) is lit first and is used to light the other candles.

The candles are attached from right to left and then lit from left to right.

The Hanukkah lights are kindled every night of Hanukkah. “The Maccabees chased away the forces of darkness with swords; we do it with light.”

Special Shabbat Rules:

It is forbidden to light a fire on Shabbat, which extends from sunset on Friday evening until nightfall of Saturday night. Therefore, on Friday afternoon, light the menorah before the Shabbat candles. Shabbat candles are traditionally lit eighteen minutes before sundown. Light the candles after sundown on Saturday.

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