Doughnuts, dreidels and a nine-branched candle holder. Here’s all you need to know about Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival also known as the Festival of Lights. Jews observe the festival by lighting one candle on a nine-branched menorah – or ‘hanukiah candelabrum’ – each day.
In the western calendar, Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December.
What is the history behind Hanukkah?
The word Hanukkah means ‘rededication’ and commemorates the Jews’ struggle for religious freedom when, according to legend, the leaders of a Jewish rebel army called the Maccabees rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt of 167 BC (BCE).
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
