What is Hanukkah all about?

Question

I've heard some things, but never really a big picture of it.

Answer 1

The holiday was called Hanukkah meaning "dedication" because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its desecration under Antiochus IV. Spiritually, Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the Oil. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.

However, non-Talmudic sources include no reference to the eight days of oil that has come to be a popular understanding and modern practice of Hanukkah. The Hebrew deutero-canonical books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees record different reasons as the origin of the eight days of Hanukkah. 1 Maccabees reads that, "For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered holocausts...Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication...should be observed...every year...for eight days.(1 Mac.56-59)"

2 Maccabees says, "The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the feast of Booths."

Historically, Hanukkah commemorates two events:

The triumph of Judaism's spiritual values as embodied in its Torah (symbolized by the Menorah, since the Torah is compared to light) over Hellenistic civilization (considered darkness) which under Antiochus IV, had attempted to culturally assimilate the Jews away from practicing Judaism's commandments, by forcefully installing Greek religious symbols in the Second Temple.
The victory of the Jews over the armies of Antiochus IV. The rebellion was begun by Mattathias Maccabee and continued by Judah Maccabee and his other sons. They defeated overwhelming forces, and re-dedicated the Second Temple.
The spiritual side of Judaism shies away from commemorating military victories, the Hasmoneans later became corrupt, and civil war between Jews is considered deplorable, so Hanukkah does not formally commemorate either of these historical events. Instead, the festival commemorates the Miracle of the Oil and the positive spiritual aspects about the Temple's re-dedication. In doing so, the oil becomes metaphor for the miraculous survival of the Jewish people through millennia of trials and tribulations.

Answer 2

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Dedication, is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or, while very rare in occasion, early January (2006). The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on.

Answer 3

There's some great answers on here already, but I just wanted to add that Hanukkah is a very minor holiday. Its just a big deal in the US because it got commercialized. I light my menorah and teach my kids about the history, but that's it.

Answer 4

This is the traditional Jewish holiday marking some sort of rebirth and new beginning, or maybe the Jews' liberation from some foreign ruler 55,000 years ago. "Rash Kishansha is a very holy time for the Jewish people," said Paul Castellano, a guy from Houston whose gastroenterologist is Jewish. "I think Dr. Futterman said it's the holiday where they light that chandelier and blow that horn." Lasting 12 days, Ran Hosea is followed by Yor Kiplach, the Festival of Sand, during which no buttered bread may be eaten in remembrance of the flooding of the ancient Temple of Hosea.

Answer 5

Hanukkah is the festival of light. It celebrates the holding of a stonghold (mountain) for a long time against a vastly superior army.

Answer 6

Channukah commemorates 2 separate events (and one has a subset) -- the dedication of the tent of meeting int eh desert, and the rededication of the temple after the successful revolt by the hasmonean family against the syrian-greeks and their king antiochus. The military victory of a small band of Jews against a monster of an army is complemented by the miracle of the oil; a small amount of pure oil was found int he tempe after the invaders were repelled, but it lasted for 8 days -- a miracle.

Answer 7

Hannukka is the festival of Lights it celebrates Judah and the Macabees finding oil in their temple after it was destroyed. The temple had been burned to the ground. We celebrate because that little bit of oil lasted 8 days

Answer 8

okay different people have different ways celebrating Christmas Hanukkah is celebrating by candles each candle represent for how many days before Christmas many people from different cultures celebrate Hanukkah

Answer 9

its the festival of light in the winter time when its dark and cold
they stay inside sing songs and light candles and have a feast
spin dradles

Answer 10

http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanstr.htm