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Hanukkah (Hebrew: חנוכה, also spelled
Chanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day
Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in
Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of
Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late
November to late December on the Gregorian calendar.
The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special
candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one light on each
night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An
extra light called a shamash (Hebrew: "guard" or "servant") is also
lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others, and is given a
distinct location, usually above or below the rest.
Hanukkah: Origins of the holiday -->
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