Not the Jewish Christmas: What is Hanukkah and What and How We Celebrate

Hanukkah!  No matter how you spell it (Hanukkah, Hannukah or Chanukah), let’s celebrate it! Often misunderstood as the “Jewish Christmas,” Chanukah is not a major holiday in the Jewish calendar, but one that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Hanukkah, the festival of lights, begins this year on December 15, 2006 at sunset and continues until sunset on December 23.  During this time, Jewish families light candles every night, eat holiday foods, play traditional games, and give gifts.  The candles are lit progressively, with two being lit the first night, and three the second night, and so on, until on the last night nine candles are lit.  The candles are placed in a ceremonial candle holder known as a menorah.  The menorahs are often beautifully decorated works of art which are passed down for generations. 




What We Celebrate During Hannukah




This Jewish holiday celebrates the victory of the Jewish rebellion over the Hellenistic rulers of
Jerusalem
. 
Jerusalem
had been conquered by Alexander the Great, and when his empire was divided after his death, Greek rulers controlled the Jewish land.  In 167 BC, after about 150 years of rule by Greeks, Mattathias, a Jewish priest, declared that he would no longer worship the Greek gods, and he and his sons began a revolution.  The family hid in the wilderness, where Mattathias died.  His son, Judah Macabee, lead the fight then, and continued until he and his brothers had conquered
Jerusalem
and driven out the Greeks.