Hanukkah

Hanukkah
 * __When does the celebration occur?__**

Hanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and lasts eight days. Each year it is on a different date but usually falls in late November or December. This year, 2011, Hanukah will be celebrated from the 20th December to the 28th December.


 * __Where did this celebration begin?__**

Two thousand years ago Israel was ruled by the Greeks and Syrians. Hanukah began when the Jewish people living in Israel won back the power to practice Judaism from the Greeks and Syrians. The Jews living in Judea rebelled against their Syrian ruler, because he insisted that all Jewish people must worship Greek Gods. After three years of fighting, the Jews defeated the Syrians and, to celebrate, they restored the Temple of Jerusalem.


 * __Why do people celebrate Hanukah?__**

Jews celebrate Hanukkah to commemorate the Miracle of the Oil. The word Hanukah means "dedication" in Hebrew.

When the Jewish people restored their temple they wanted to relight the special candle holders that each Jewish temple has, these are called Menorah. There was only one small container of oil left in the temple to light the Menorah; the Jewish people thought it was only enough for one day. A miracle occurred and even though it was only a small amount the oil burned for eight days.

It was then declared that every year, Jews would remember the day with an eight-day Festival of Lights and celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in a Menorah. Electric lights are sometimes used, especially where an open flame might be dangerous, such as a hospital room. The Hanukkah lights are meant to remind those walking by the home about the holiday’s miracle, so the Menorah is displayed in the front window or near the front door.


 * __What special things do people do for Hanukah?__**

There are lots of different activities that are part of the Hanukah celebrations.

On the first day of Hanukah a single candle is lit and then each day an extra candle is lit in the Menorah until all eight candles are lit on the eighth day of celebration. There are special hymns that are sung while the candles are being lit.

There is also a special toy called a Dreidel. The Dreidel is a four sided spinning top that has Hebrew letters on each side. During Hanukah celebrations children have played with the Dreidel for over two thousand years.

Children also receive a Hanukah Gelt, this is a bag that can have real money or chocolate coins wrapped in foil.

Another great custom is to eat special Jewish food during Hanukah. These include potato pancakes and doughnuts.