The holiday spirit fills the December air with a magical aura. One of these holidays is the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah).
The eight-day holiday fills the minds of million of Jews at this time of year. The dates changes every year because it is based on the Hebrew calendar, but in 2019 it will be celebrated December 22 through 30. Hanukkah is rich with centuries of history and legends. Originating from stories of the oppressed Jewish people rising up against their captors, the celebration stands strong as a time to celebrate the culture and heritage of Jews worldwide. Aden Bush, junior, is one of these Ashkenazi Jews who uses this as a time to connect with his past. “Reminds me of my ancestors … I get to celebrate with my family, my grandfather tells us stories about Hanukkah,” Bush said.
Multiple traditions enrich the festivities. the most iconic is the Menorah, a type of candle that is said to be kept alight for eight full days during the Jewish rededication of the Second Temple. Even though the olive oil was only supposed to last for one day, it is considered a miracle that the Menorah lasted as long as it did.
As well as this iconic tradition there are other key aspects, like food and games. Traditionally, the foods of Hanukkah are fried in oil as a sort of symbolism for the oil in the Menorah. The most popular foods that you can try are fried potato pancakes called latkes, as well as fried, jelly-filled donuts. While munching on delicious fried snacks, little Jewish kids participate in a gambling game called dreidel. This is a game that involves spinning a four-sided top that has four Hebrew characters representing what the player gets in the game.
Fun surrounds Hanukkah as a whole. So get out there, find some great traditions to partake in and connect with the Jewish people in your community. Enjoy the great Festival of Lights.