{"id":56845,"date":"2025-11-20T16:36:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T21:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/?p=56845"},"modified":"2025-11-20T16:36:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T21:36:18","slug":"what-is-hanukkah-and-who-celebrates-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/fr\/2025\/11\/what-is-hanukkah-and-who-celebrates-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Hanukkah and Who Celebrates It?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Have you ever heard of Hanukkah? Like many of the winter holidays, It is a festival of light celebrated in December. Whereas Christians celebrate a miraculous birth for their Christmas holiday, the Jewish people celebrate another miracle that took place. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Hanukkah\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>
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The Story of Hanukkah<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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A long time ago, a powerful king named Antiochus tried to force the Jewish people to give up their religion by taking over their holy temple. A group of brave Jewish fighters, called the Maccabees, rose up and fought to defend their right to worship in their own way. Despite being outnumbered, the Maccabees won the war and kicked the king and his soldiers out of the temple. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Then, they set to work cleaning up their temple so it could be used again for worship. When they were done and it was time to light the lamp for their ceremony, they found just one small jar of oil, only enough for one day and night. But, by the miracle celebrated on Hanukkah, the lamp continued to burn for eight days and nights instead of only one, allowing them the time they needed to get more sacred oil. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Hanukkah means \u201cfestival of light\u201d and is a time of joy, miracles and hope for the people who practice Judaism. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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How is Hanukkah celebrated?<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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At the center of this festival of light is a menorah, which holds nine candles – eight to recognize each night that the oil burned and one \u201chelper\u201d candle, called a shamash, that lights the others. On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit until, at last, the entire menorah is aglow. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Each night of Hanukkah is a celebration and families hold feasts with special foods, such as potato pancakes, called \u201clatkes,\u201d and jelly doughnuts, known as \u201csufgnaiyot.\u201d Many of the special foods are fried in oil to celebrate the miraculous oil that kept the lamp burning. (CAN INSERT HERE TO SEE PAGE # FOR RECIPE OF LATKES)<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Families, especially children, give each other gifts for each night of Hanukkah. Donations to charities are also made to ignite a spirit of generosity within the wider community. Blessings, prayers, songs and special games are a big part of this Jewish holiday.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Craft: Play a game of Dreidel!<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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One of the most beloved games of Hanukkah is Dreidel. A Dreidel is a small spinning top, usually made from wood, that has four sides, each with a different symbol in Hebrew, the language of the Jewish people:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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