Question:
What is the Hanukkah holiday tradition?
Dusk
2008-12-16 19:02:21 UTC
I'm just curious, what is the meaning of Hanukkah? Can you tell me more about it please? Detailed and informed answers would greatly be appreciated, thank you = )
Two answers:
Thunderpuppy
2008-12-16 20:41:07 UTC
Hanukkah (or Chanukkah; there are actually lots of ways to spell it since it's a transliteration from the Hebrew alphabet), is the celebration of an event older than Christianity. Essentially, a group of Jewish patriots fought off the Hellenized Syrians (e.g. ,those who had adopted the Greek traditions) who had defiled the Hebrew Temple and turned it into a stable. The celebration isn't about the military victory though. The story continues that these patriots cleaned up the Temple and re-dedicated it to their God. Part of their religious tradition was to have an eternal candle, or oil light, burn within the Temple. They found one vial of sanctified oil for this light, but it was only enough to burn for one day. It would take eight days for a runner to get a fresh supply of oil. However, a miracle happened and this one vial of oil lasted for the full eight days until the runner came back with new oil. So, Hanukkah is the "celebration of lights," commemorating this miracle, and that's why it lasts eight days.
plushy_bear
2008-12-17 15:30:57 UTC
Thunderp...gave a great answer. Let me just add that we celebrate it with a chanukiah (or menorah) - 8 candles plus the shamash (middle candle or to the side; notice it's higher than the others). We light the shamash and saying prayers, light the others. One candle on the first night, 2 on the second, 3 on the third...loads of candles used and of course the shamash every night.

We sing songs and play with a dreidel (which can be used for minor gambling - usually with chanukah coins - chocolate!).

When I was younger, my parents would get me a toy or game - 1 for every night (nothing like being a spoiled only kid, ya know?).


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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