Who Celebrate Hanukkah?
The celebrations of Hanukkah take place across the world for eight days by the Jewish people. Many regard it as one of the most loved holidays among the Jewish people.
On this day, Jerusalem was recovered, and the day also marks the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. It is known as the Festival of Lights when people light 8 special candles and also exchange gifts. Let us find out more about the same in brief in the paragraphs that follow.
Hanukkah Festival of lights – 2021
In 2021, what day does Hanukkah start? Hanukkah festival started on November 28th Sunday at sundown and will continue until December 6th.
Significance of Festival of Lights Hanukkah
Hanukkah is also known by the name Chanukah and it commemorates a period in history that is more than 2500 years ago. During this period, the Jewish holy temple was captured by the Syrian Greek forces. The King known by the name Antiochus gave a choice to the Jewish people that said they either accept being sentenced to death or renounce their religion.
During the same time, a group of Jewish rebels known as Maccabees fought bravely and recaptured the holy temple. But they found out that there is enough oil only for a day to keep the holy lamp burning. The flame is not supposed to go out at any time. However, due to a miracle, the flame kept on burning for eight days. And for this reason, the eight candles are lit to mark the eight days of the festival and explain the Hanukkah candles meaning.
Any festival is not complete unless there is special preparation as far as food is concerned. What food is eaten on Hanukkah? One of the customs observed at the Hanukkah festival is to eat fried foods prepared in oil, especially potato pancakes and doughnuts. Potato pancakes are also known as latkes. Foods fried in oil have significance because of the oil in the temple and the flame that kept on burning.
How to Celebrate Hanukkah?
Aside from celebrating by lighting eights candles and exchanging gifts which are known as “Hanukkah gelt“, and chocolate coins, you will also see people play games with the dreidel, which is a spinning top. The top has letters written in Hebrew. The day Hanukkah starts may also coincide with Christmas in some years.
