7 Secret Facts About Hanukkah You Didn’t Know
You might have heard your Jewish friends talk about Hanukkah, but what is this Jewish festival? We’re happy you asked! Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem that happened in the second century. Jews are known to celebrate this festival of lights all over the world.
Continue reading this blog to find out seven interesting facts about Hanukkah.
The Word Hanukkah Means Dedication
The literal meaning of the word Hanukkah is ‘dedication’, and it explains the Jewish holiday. During the Maccabean Revolt, Jews stood up against the Greek-Syrian oppressors. The Jews were led by their priest Mattathias and his five sons, and they vigorously fought against the cruel Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who disbanded the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Once the Jews won the revolt, Judah Maccabee ordered them to clean, rebuild and rededicate the temple.
The Hanukkah Miracle
Ever wonder why the Jews celebrate Hanukkah for specifically eight days? This is because of the Hanukkah Miracle.
A miracle happened in the Second Temple of Jerusalem during its rededication. After the temple was cleansed, the menorah candles were lit. However, the candles only had enough oil to stay lit for only one night. But miraculously, the candles stayed lit for eight full nights.
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Hanukkah Never Falls on the Same Date on the Gregorian Calendar
According to the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev.
But when we compare the date to the Gregorian calendar, you’ll be surprised to know that while Hanukkah in 2019 was celebrated from 22nd to 30th December, the same festival was held from 10th to 18th December in 2020.
The difference in dates is due to the mismatch in the Gregorian and the Jewish calendar. Did you know this mismatch is because the Gregorian calendar that is normally used all around the world is solar while the Jewish calendar is lunisolar? Sounds fascinating, right?
If you’re planning to visit Israel for Hanukkah in the future, we’d recommend you check the Jewish calendar first and then schedule your trip. Jewish calendars are normally found in Hebrew, we’d recommend you improve your Hebrew language skills before checking the calendar.
Jews Eat Traditional Food Items on Hanukkah
If you’re visiting Israel on Hanukkah, you might see the same food dishes in almost every home. This is because the Jews follow a traditional menu during this festival. Some of the traditional food items during Hanukkah are mentioned below.
Latkes
Who doesn’t love a sweet pancake made from egg, milk, and butter in the morning? We all love it, right? But have you ever eaten a potato pancake? (Yes, we know it’s quite surprising)
A latke is a traditional Jewish dish made during Hanukkah. It’s made using fried or mashed potatoes.
Israeli locals serve latkes with apple sauce or sour cream, and it’s a great snack to enjoy during the Hanukkah festivities.
Sufganiyot
Stuffed donuts are also super popular in Israel on Hannukah. The idea behind them is that they are fried in oil. Just like latkes are fried in oil, the reason for this is to remember the oil being the main element in the miracle of lighting the menorah used to rededicate the Temple in the times of the Macabees.
A Menorah Is Used To Celebrate Hannukah is Called a Chanukkiah
Have you ever seen the seven-arm candle used in Jewish celebrations? Those candles are called menorahs and are also used for Hanukkah celebrations but wait; you might not know something very interesting about Hanukkah’s special menorah. (Don’t worry, we won’t keep the secret from you for too long!)
While traditional menorah candles have seven arms, the menorah used for Hanukkah has nine arms. The eight arms represent the eight nights, while the ninth candle is known as shamash that lights the other candles. This special 9 armed menorah is called a Chanukkiah.
Candles in the Menorah Are Lit From Right To Left
If you think you can randomly light up any of the eight candles in the menorah, you’re wrong. The true Hanukkah tradition is to light the candles from right to left. Every night a new candle should be lit first, then the candles from the previous nights. This process should be continued till the eighth day when the last candle is lit and then the remaining candles 7 from right all the way to the left.
Dreidel is a Traditional Game Played During Hanukkah
Families often give out chocolate coins or even real coins as prize money for the game. The dreidel has four sides, and each side has a Hebrew letter, including Nun, Gimmel, Hay, Shin. You’ll be surprised to know that these four letters stand for a sentence that means, ‘a great miracle happened there.’
The game and the whole Hanukkah festival are a constant reminder of the miracle and the rededication of the Second Temple. If you’re interested in the history of this festival, you should start taking Hebrew classes and then dive into Hebrew literature.
Learn Hebrew to Celebrate Hanukkah with Your Israeli Friends!
Want to enjoy the festivities of Hanukkah on your trip to Israel? It’s time to improve your Hebrew skills by hiring Israeli teachers. If you want to get exceptional Hebrew training, visit Ulpan-Or today.
Our team of teachers uses the Rapid Learning Acquisition (RLA) methodology to help our clients in Canada, Australia, the US, and the UK to become fluent in Hebrew. We’ve got a wide range of Hebrew books, curriculum, and magazines to help you study Hebrew at home.
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