Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is a Jewish religious holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. This holiday typically falls in December, although the exact dates vary each year because the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
The holiday commemorates a significant religious event that is said to have taken place around 165 BCE (Before Common Era) in Jerusalem. The story behind Hanukkah is centered around the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was reclaimed from the control of the Seleucid Empire, which had been imposing Hellenistic practices on the Jewish population. The holiday is often called the Festival of Lights due to the central miracle associated with it. According to the Jewish faith, when the Jewish rebels recaptured the Temple, they found that there was only enough consecrated oil left to light the menorah (a seven-branched candelabrum) for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, allowing them to rededicate the Temple and perform their necessary religious rituals. This event is celebrated by lighting a special nine-branched candelabrum called a “menorah” or “hanukkiah.” One candle, known as the “shamash,” is used to light the others each night of Hanukkah.
The main rituals and traditions of the Hanukkah celebration include:
- Lighting the Menorah: Each night of Hanukkah, a candle is lit on the menorah. On the first night, one candle is lit, and an additional candle is added each subsequent night until all eight candles are lit.
- Playing the Dreidel Game: The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side. It’s a traditional game played during Hanukkah, often using gelt (chocolate coins) as betting tokens.
- Eating Fried Foods: Due to the story of the oil-related miracle, fried foods are a common element of Hanukkah meals. Latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled donuts) are popular choices.
- Gift-Giving: In some cultures, especially in Western societies, gift-giving has become a part of Hanukkah, with practical presents often given to children on each of the eight nights.
- Spending Time with Family: Hanukkah is a time for families to come together, light the menorah, share meals, and celebrate the holiday’s religious significance and traditions.
What foods are traditionally served during Hanukkah?
As stated above, meals served during Hanukkah often feature foods that are fried or cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the ancient Temple. Some common dishes or treats you may enjoy during this celebration include:
- Latkes: Potato pancakes made from grated potatoes, onions, eggs, and a bit of flour. They are fried until they are crispy and golden brown and are typically served with sour cream and/or applesauce.
- Sufganiyot: Round jelly-filled, or custard-filled, donuts fried in oil and topped with powdered sugar.
- Brisket: Slow-cooked, tender, and flavorful, brisket is a common main dish during Hanukkah.
- Roast Chicken: Roast chicken is another popular main dish for Hanukkah dinners.
- Matzo Ball Soup: While matzo ball soup is more traditionally associated with Passover, it’s also enjoyed during Hanukkah. It’s a chicken broth-based soup with dumplings made from matzo meal.
- Dreidel Cookies: These are sugar or shortbread cookies shaped like the spinning top called a dreidel, which is often played with during Hanukkah. The cookies are usually decorated with colorful icing.
- Gelt: Chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil, known as “gelt,” are often given to children as Hanukkah gifts or used for playing the dreidel game.
Hanukkah is a joyful and festive holiday that commemorates religious events and celebrates the themes of freedom, miracles, and the preservation of Jewish identity and culture.
Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!
Do you celebrate Hanukkah? What is your favorite dish? Let us know in the comments!
