What is Hannukah and why is it celebrated?

Answer 1

Hannukah is a Jewish holiday, also called the Festival of Lights. The story goes that Israelis/Jews were hiding from an enemy, and they only had enough oil for their lamps to last them one day, but by the grace of God it lasted 8 days. That is why there are eight candles on a menora (just a fancy word for the candle holder). There is a ninth spot for the candle used to light the others. One candle is lit each night. Gifts can be given each night for small children, but not all families do this. Like any Jewish holiday, there's also tons of delicious food, like latkes (potato pancakes). Yum!

Answer 2

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Rededication, 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 (as was the case for the Hanukkah of 2005–2006). 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, and so on.

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.

Traditional Hanukkah food: Potato pancakes, known as latkes in Yiddish, are traditionally associated with Hanukkah, (especially among Ashkenazi families) in particular because there is a custom to eat foods fried or baked in oil, preferably olive oil, as the original miracle of the Hanukkah menorah involved the discovery of the small flask of oil used by the Jewish High Priest (the Kohen Gadol). Many Sephardic families as well as Polish Ashkenazim and Israelis have the custom to eat all kinds of doughnuts (bimuelos or sufganiyot) which are deep-fried in oil.

Merry Crimbo!!!

Answer 3

It is a very minor festival the Jewish people celebrate so as to not feel left out during Christmas. It would be kind of like being Italian-American and celebrating Columbus day while your German friends celebrate the Oktoberfest.

Answer 4

Hannukah...I have no Idea sorry.