Hanukkah 2024
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The festival is celebrated with the lighting of a menorah, special prayers, and festive foods. It is also a time for gift-giving and family gatherings.
Hanukkah 2024 will begin on Sunday, December 15, and end on Monday, December 23. The first day of Hanukkah is observed on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which corresponds to late November or December in the Gregorian calendar.
The story of Hanukkah
Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire in 165 BCE. The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebels who fought for religious freedom against the Seleucid king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Antiochus had forbidden Jews from practicing their religion and had desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem by erecting an idol to the Greek god Zeus. The Maccabees revolted against Antiochus and, after three years of fighting, they were victorious.
The Maccabees rededicated the Second Temple and restored religious freedom to the Jews. They also instituted the festival of Hanukkah to commemorate their victory.
Hanukkah traditions
The main traditions of Hanukkah include:
- Lighting the menorah: The menorah is a nine-branched candelabra that is used to commemorate the miracle of the oil. According to legend, when the Maccabees rededicated the Second Temple, they found only enough oil to keep the menorah lit for one day. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, which is how long it took to make new oil. To commemorate this miracle, Jews light the menorah each night of Hanukkah, adding one candle each night until all nine candles are lit.
- Saying special prayers: Jews say special prayers each night of Hanukkah, including the Maoz Tzur and the Hallel.
- Eating festive foods: Hanukkah is a time for feasting and eating special foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and challah (a sweet, braided bread).
- Giving gifts: It is customary to give gifts to children on Hanukkah, such as toys, books, or money.
- Gathering with family and friends: Hanukkah is a time for family and friends to gather together and celebrate.
Hanukkah 2024
Hanukkah 2024 is expected to be a special time for Jewish people around the world. The festival will be celebrated with traditional foods, music, and dancing. It will also be a time for reflection and remembrance of the Maccabees’ victory.
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