What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah

Also Hanukka, Hanukkah, Chanuka, and Chanukah - חנוכה

Hanukkah, the eight day long Festival of Lights, is one of the most joyous times of the Jewish year.

The reason for the celebration is twofold (both dating back to c. 165 BCE):

• The miraculous military victory of the small, ill-equipped Jewish army (Maccabees) over the ruling Greek Syrians, who had banned the Jewish religion and desecrated the Temple;
• The miracle of the small cruse of consecrated oil, which burned for eight days in the Temple's menorah instead of just one.

Hanukkah is celebrated by:

• Lighting an 8-branched menorah (called a Chanukiah) for eight nights (at sunset) with either olive oil or wax candles; one on the first night and an additional one each succeeding night, so that the last night has eight lights
• Eating food fried in oil, especially potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot)
• Playing with a dreidel, a four-sided top; the player wins or loses money depending on which side it lands on (each is marked with a different Hebrew letter)
• Adding special prayers: Al Hanisim (On the Miracles) to grace after meals and the thrice-daily prayers, singing the Hallel (Psalms 113 through 118) during morning prayers.

Before lighting the Chanukiah the following blessing are said in Hebrew:

1. Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights."

2. Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors, in those days, at this season."

3. This third blessing is recited only on the first night: "Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season."

After lighting the candles the "Haneirot halalu" is said, informing everybody that the candles are being lit to publicize the miracle and may not be used for mundane purposes. For this reason the extra "Shamash" is lit, so that there's an extra light people can use to read by, that is not related to the lights commemorating the miracle.

Then the Ma'oz Tzur poem is sung.

Some have the custom of children giving Hanukka Gelt - money (or even gifts) on all of some of the 8 nights of Hanukkah.

Hanukka starts on the evening of 25th of Kislev (the 9th month on the Jewish calendar) which is always in December. Sometimes as early as Dec 2, sometimes later, even as late as Dec 29. Hanukka lasts for 8 days. In 2007 it was Dec 5. In 2008 it will be Dec 22. In 2009: Dec 12. In 2101; Dec 2. In 2011: Dec 21.

First answer by Georgea. Last edit by Doniels. Contributor trust: 202 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 99 [recommend question]