‘Tis almost the end of 2024. The majority of Americans celebrate with their friends and family on Christmas as one last formal get together before the new year. Many others celebrate another well recognized holiday around this time of year: Hanukkah. Despite how often it is brought up alongside Christmas in marketing and media, those who don’t participate in it lack knowledge of its purpose. This year, since the first day of Hanukkah falls on December 25th, it’s a great time to learn about the holiday 1 in every 14 Americans celebrate.
The Festival of Lights was started to honor the miracle that occurred during the Second Temple in Jerusalem’s rededication. Around 200 B.C., King Antiochus IV outlawed the Jewish religion, and forced his people to worship the Greek gods. He had ordered his soldiers to go as far as to defile the Second Temple by having an altar dedicated to Zeus built inside. In rebellion Mattathias, his son Judah, and the Maccabees fought and were successful in their efforts to reclaim what was taken from them. While the temple was being rebuilt, the menorahs were relit, but the amount of oil the soldiers had available would only last one night. By a miracle, the oil kept the candles burning for eight nights, giving plenty of time for the soldiers to find more.
Today, one of the most widely recognized traditions of Hanukkah is lighting a candle on the hanukkiah every night. There are in total nine branches with the center as a holder for the shamash candle, which is used to light each candle. The candles representing the eight nights are added from right to left, but lit from left to right. Traditional foods that are made are fried in oil such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam filled donuts). Additional activities include playing with dreidels which are 4 sided tops, gift giving, and reciting prayers.
Hanukkah is not the most important Jewish holiday as you would be led to believe. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the New Year and Day of Atonement respectively, are considered much more significant. Many speculate the misconception stems from the marketing around the holiday season in the states. So no, Hanukkah is not a “Jewish Christmas”, it is its own separate celebration in honor of a different event.
Sources:
https://www.history.com
https://www.cbsnews.com
https://www.cnn.com
https://www.datonics.com
