New Delhi: The first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday will fall on the same day as Christmas this year. Since 2005, this is happening for the first time. While both Christmas and Hanukkah fall on the 25th, it happens on two different months. While Christmas is celebrated on December 25 on the Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of the Kislev month in the Jewish calendar.
What is Hanukkah?
Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” Hanukkah is a celebration of the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in the 2nd century B.C. after the Jews defeated the Greek rule. While rededicating the Temple, the Jews came across a small amount of pure oil. It was enough to be used for just one day, and they lighted the menorah with the oil. However, miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days.
How is Hanukkah observed?
Since the pure oil lasted miraculously for eight days, Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days. As per the Hebrew calendar, it starts in the 25th day of Kislev which does not always correspond with Christmas in the Gregorian calendar. During the festival, candles of a candelabrum with nine branches are lighted and it is known as hanukkiah or a menorah. One branch generally remains above or below the others and that candle is used to light the others. This unique candle is called the shammash and it lights one additional candle each night until on the festival’s final night all eight candles are lit together.
The festivities of Hanukkah also include singing songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods like sufganiyot, latkes and dairy foods. Hanukkah involves several rituals which are performed every day for eight days. Many families exchange gifts each night and oil-based foods are eaten to commemorate the importance of oil during the celebration of Hanukkah.
Children are given ‘Hanukkah Gelt’ which is a varying amount of money. According to traditions, women should not work for at least the first 30 minutes of the burning of the candles while some customs forbid them form working for the entire time of burning. Also, one should not fast or eulogize during Hanukkah. While Hanukkah was not a major holiday in the past, it has gained popularity over the years and is celebrated by many Jews over the world.
Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” celebrates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. This year, it remarkably coincides with Christmas, a rare occurrence. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
