Today is the first day of Hanukkah!
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, celebrated over eight days and nights. Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which can fall anytime around the end of November or the beginning of December. This year, Hanukkah will start on December 8 and end on December 16. Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting a candle each night, being around family, singing songs, receiving presents, reciting prayers, playing games and eating foods such as latkes and sufganiyot.
In Hebrew, the word Hanukkah means “dedication”, which honours the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Hanukkah can be spelled many different ways, such as Chanukah, Chanukkah and Hanukah.
- While Hanukkah is one of the less important Jewish holidays, it is one that many non-Jewish people know about.
- Up to the 1800s, Hanukkah had been a minor holiday. It later gained popularity due to the fact that it happened during the holiday season. It is now one of the most celebrated holidays around the world.
- The Hanukkah candelabra that holds nine candles is actually called a Hanukkiah. Many people refer to it as a menorah, which is actually a candelabra that holds seven candles.
- Gift-giving was not something that was always associated with Hanukkah. As the holiday grew in popularity in the United States and in Canada, the idea of a gift per night became a popular tradition.
Will you be celebrating Hanukkah this year? Let us know in the comments below!