Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is one of the most important celebrations of Judaism. Here’s a brief explainer of the Jewish holiday, how it’s celebrated, and some of the special food that’s prepared during this festivity.
What is Hanukkah?
In Hebrew, it means “rededication”. But above all, it’s the name of one of the most important celebrations in Judaism. It begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, also known as “the ninth month”.
Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights or Luminaries. This celebration commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. According to legend, Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
Brief history of Hanukkah
[Image: Jeniffer Mei]
The above refers to the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. According to legend, Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
At that time, the inhabitants of Judea were under the occupation of the Seleucid Empire, arising from the conquests of Alexander the Great. The Syrian-Greek regime of Antiochus tried to alienate the Jews from their religion and assimilate them to the Greek culture.
But in 165 BC, the Jews began a revolt against this threat to their beliefs. After three years, the Maccabees won the battle miraculously since Antiochus had thousands of well-armed troops.
The successful rebellion of the Maccabees restored their independence and allowed the purification of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the occupiers. During the rededication process of the temple, the lamp that illuminated it was kept lit for eight days when in reality it only had oil for one.
The latter is known as “The Hanukkah Miracle” or “The Miracle of the Oil”. In honor of this, during Hanukkah, the candles in a special nine-branched candelabrum are lit progressively, a new one each night until the completion of eight (the ninth arm is for the pilot candle).
Since that event, the Jews observe the Hanukkah holiday as a remembrance of the historic victory and the miracle of the oil.
When is it celebrated?
This Jewish holiday varies from year to year on the Western calendar, but it’s usually celebrated between the end of November and the end of December since it corresponds with Kislev. Hanukkah is a festivity that lasts for eight consecutive days.
This 2021, Hanukkah will be celebrated from the afternoon of Sunday, November 28 to the afternoon of Monday, December 6. During each day, the nine arms of the chandelier, called Hanukkiah or Hanukkah menorah, are progressively lit to symbolize the victory of light over darkness.
As in many celebrations in other cultures, prayers and songs are not lacking either. A translated traditional Hanukkah blessing is the following one: “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.”
Hanukkah traditions
The Hanukkah menorah is not, however, the only typical object of the celebration, in which gifts are also exchanged. Some families usually give a small gift to the children every night. Others give them Hanukkah gelt, or chocolate coins. Adults can also receive gifts, such as candles and Jewish cookbooks.
Likewise, Children play with a kind of whirligig called dreidel. This spinning top is inscribed with four letters of the Hebrew alphabet that form the acronym for “a great miracle happened there”.
As in many celebrations in other cultures, prayers and songs are not lacking either. A translated traditional Hanukkah blessing is the following one: “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.”
Hanukkah food
The miraculous duration of the oil, for its part, is also remembered in the large number of fried foods that are consumed during the Jewish celebration. There is a huge variety of traditional Hanukkah dishes that are delicious.
The latkes, for example, are pancake-shaped and shallow-fried food that is traditionally made with ground potatoes. They can be mixed with onion, egg, flour, and seasonings. Kugel is a traditional Jewish egg noodle casserole and is commonly served as a side dish. It can be transformed from sweet to savory by swapping out sugar and specialty cinnamon for vegetables and spices.
On the other hand, you can also find brisket, which is enjoyed during many Jewish holidays besides Hanukkah, such as Rosh Hashanah and Passover. Meanwhile, the sufganiyot is a dessert option for the Jewish celebration. This is a doughnut that’s typically filled with jelly or custard, deep-fried, and then coated with powdered sugar.
Furthermore, the challah is a traditional Jewish egg bread that’s often served on Shabbat and is popular throughout the year. It can be braided or served as a simple round loaf. Either way, it’s slightly sweet with a dark crust and a smooth interior. The dough is oftentimes made with ingredients like eggs, water, butter, yeast, salt, sugar, and/or oil. After it’s cooked, it can be topped with sesame seeds or poppy seeds for a salty flavor.
Cover photo: Len Radin
