Festival of Hanukkah has a rich history and very less known to the people of the world. Celebrated in the months of November or December of the western calendar, Hanukkah means rededication, or celebrating for one of the greatest miracles that occurred in the Jewish history, around 2500 years ago.
The story goes like this... A small group of Jews called the Maccabees won over the Syrian Greeks by recapturing the Jerusalem kingdom in a three year war. This small group then rededicated the temple to the Divine. They found the oil (with a curse that if used, it would last for a day). To celebrate their victory, Maccabees lighted the menorah (seven branched lamp stand) in the temple and miraculously it stayed alight for eight days. Thus, this festival is celebrated in the span of eight days.
Jews celebrate this festival by lighting one candle each night and reciting prayers before lighting them. These candles are lighted by the Shamash or servant candle from the right to left. This is called as lighting the Menorah. These candles sticks are called as hanukiah.
Jews also indulge in playing games like spinning the dreidels ( dreidels are in square shaped boxes that have letter inscribed on each of its faces that have symbolic meanings). The festive platter includes potatoes, salads, brisket, salmon, donuts and other fired and dairy food products.
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