Today is the first day of Hannukah!
Hannukah (also known as “the festival of lights”) is a Jewish holiday celebrated over eight days and eight nights. Hannukah usually takes place during November or December. The holiday commemorates a time when Jewish people were persecuted out of their Holy Temple. Judah Maccabee fought against the armies that were persecuting them and led them back to the Holy Temple.
Jewish people celebrate Hannukah for eight days to commemorate a miracle believed to have occurred during the journey back to the temple: the oil that was only meant to last one night ended up lasting eight days.
This year Hannukah will start at sundown on November 27 and end at sundown on December 5.
Did you know?
- During this holiday, Jewish people eat lots of fried food, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) to remind them of the plentiful oil.
- There are over 10 ways to spell Hannukah, including: Chanukah, Channukah, Hanukah and Chanukkah.
- Spinning the Dreidel is a popular game that Jewish children play. They even gamble with chocolate coins known as Gelt.
- A menorah is a candelabra that holds nine candles, with the centre candle place being the tallest.
- The word Hannukah means dedication in Hebrew.
- This year, Hannukah falls extremely early in the calendar and apparently this won’t happen again for another 69,000 years!