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History of Hanukkah

The origin of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, and the lighting of the candles, is based on a miracle that happened in 165 B.C.   Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication” or “consecration.”

The story goes that the King of the Greeks, Antiochus, attempted to force the Jewish people to follow the Greek religion. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews fought feverishly for three years until the Greek soldiers were finally driven away.

The Jews were ready to celebrate their victory and to rededicate the Jerusalem temple by lighting the eternal flame.  Unfortunately, they could only find enough oil to last for one day.  They went ahead and lit the lamp and miraculously, the small vessel of oil lasted for eight days, long enough to make more oil.

The original Menorah used in the Temple had seven branches, (one for each day of creation) whereas the Hanukkah Menorah, has nine branches; eight of the branches on one level and the ninth, set slightly apart, is used to light the other eight. The eight candles signify the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. 

Hanukkah is celebrated in December and the shamash candle (the one elevated or set apart) is used to light the other eight.  One candle is lit every night (plus the shamash) and the number of lights lit, is increased by one each night.  Blessings are recited with the lighting of the candles sometimes followed by additional prayers and songs. 

Often times the Hanukkah Menorah is placed in a window facing a street so that passersby are reminded of the miracle.  The Hanukkah lights are not so much for “lighting the house within” as they are “illumination of the house without.”  There are also larger outdoor Menorahs that further exemplify this same concept.

Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is also accompanied by special foods, games and gifts.
Foods fried or cooked in oil (commemorating the oil in the temple) are prepared and gifts are given.  Coins (sometimes chocolate versions) are given to children or other gifts.  Children also play with a top called a Dreidel.  A Dreidel is a four sided top that has a letter on each side.  The letters are actually acronyms for the Hebrew phrase which means “a great miracle happened here.”

 Written by Debra Howard for Tucson Home and Garden Spot, Copyright 2007. www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com is an online resource directory for the local home & garden industry.  Debra is a former antique dealer, retailer and interior designer who now helps small businesses get maximum exposure on the web, through her business, Creative Edge Marketing Company  www.creativeedgemarketingco.com  No part of this article may be reprinted without permission.