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Hanukkah
[ hah-nuh-kuh; khahāAshkenazic Hebrew khah-nuh-kuh; Sephardic Hebrew khah-noo-kah ]
noun
- a Jewish festival lasting eight days, celebrated from the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the 2nd of Tevet in commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees following their victory over the Syrians under Antiochus IV, characterized chiefly by the lighting of the menorah on each night of the festival.
Hanukkah
/ ĖhÉĖnÉkÉ; xanuĖka; -nŹĖkÉĖ /
noun
- the eight-day Jewish festival of lights beginning on the 25th of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 bc Also calledFeast of DedicationFeast of Lights
Hanukkah
- A festival in Judaism that occurs each December. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jews (see also Jews ) in the second century b.c. over the Syrians, who had occupied their country, and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem ) ( hanukkah is Hebrew for ādedicationā). Observers of Hanukkah light one candle in a candleholder called a menorah each night for eight nights in memory of a legend that, when the Temple was rededicated, its lamps burned, without enough oil, miraculously for a week.
Notes
51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins
Origin of Hanukkah1
51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins
Origin of Hanukkah1
Example Sentences
Yes, it comes at a price ā Nikki gets booted from a play, loses her boyfriend, celebrates Hanukkah in the hallway of her apartment building ā but so be it.
Children who had been due to go back to classes on Monday after the Christmas and Hanukkah break were instead enjoying a snow day as school districts closed from Maryland to Kansas.
āHanukkah on the Rocksā airs on the Hallmark Channel Dec. 22, 26 and 31.
Hanukkah begins on Christmas this year, marking a rare coincidence of the Jewish and Christian holidays, which occur according to different calendars.
āI have no doubt we have enough candles for all eight nights,ā says Sam, ājust like the oil in the Hanukkah story.ā
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How Do You Spell Hanukkah?
Spelling tips forĀ Hanukkah
It can be difficult to remember how to spell the word Hanukkah because it has many valid spellings. It is a transliteration, meaning that itās transcribed from a different alphabet (in this case, Hebrew).
How to spell Hanukkah: By far, the most commonly used spelling is Hanukkahāwith one n and two kās. The spelling Chanukah is also somewhat commonly used. But there are also several other spellings that are considered valid, including Chanoukah and Hannukah.
More About Hanukkah
What isĀ Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century b.c.e. It usually occurs in December but can also happen in late November and can extend into January.
It can also be spelled Chanukah. It is sometimes called the Feast of Dedicationāthe word Hanukkah is commonly interpreted as meaning āa dedicationā in Hebrew.
More commonly, itās referred to as the Festival of Lights (or Feast of Lights). Thatās because Hanukkah is observed with the lighting of a multi-branched candelabrum called the menorah (or hanukiah or chanukiah). When it has nine candles, one of them is a āstarterā (technically called the shammes) thatās used to light the other eight candles. One candle is lit on each subsequent evening of the celebration, until all are lit. Special prayers may be said during the lighting of each candle or at different times of each day.
The tradition of lighting the menorah during Hanukkah is done to commemorate the story of a miracle. According to the story, when the Temple was rededicated, its lamps burned miraculously for a week, even though there was not enough oil to fuel them.
The rededication of the Temple occurred after Judea was liberated from Syrian occupation by the Maccabees, a family of Jews led by Judas Maccabaeus. They defeated the Syrians under Antiochus IV around 165 b.c.e.
Common ways of celebrating Hanukkah include giving gifts to children and loved ones, having family dinners, and eating special foods like latkes. Children sometimes play games with a traditional toy called a dreidel, a kind of four-sided top.
Example: I love spending Hanukkah with my family and lighting the menorah each night!
When is Hanukkah?
The timing of Hanukkah is based on the Jewish calendar and varies from year to year. It is celebrated on the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the 2nd of Tevet. This most often corresponds to an eight-day period in December.
In 2023, ±į²¹²Ō³Ü°ģ°ģ²¹³óĢżwill begin on the evening of December 7 and end on the evening of December 15. In 2024,Ā ±į²¹²Ō³Ü°ģ°ģ²¹³óĢżwill begin on the evening of December 25 and end on the evening of January 2, 2025.
Where doesĀ Hanukkah come from?
Various spellings of the word Hanukkah have been used in English since at least the 1600s. It comes from the Hebrew word įø„Än³Ü°ģ°ģÄå³ó, which is thought to mean āa dedicatingā or āa dedication.ā
Hanukkah is thousands of years old, but itās not one of the holidays mentioned in the canonical Jewish scriptures (the events it commemorates occurred after the writing of the Torah). Instead, it is based on rabbinic tradition. In the context of the Jewish religion, it is not considered one of the most important Jewish holy days. However, it is now celebrated by Jews all over the world, and it is especially popular among Jews in the United States. Hanukkah is also one of the most well-known Jewish holidays among people who are not Jewish, especially due to the fact that it often falls around the Christian holiday of Christmas, making it part of the āholiday season,ā especially in the U.S.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to Hanukkah?
- Chanukah (alternate spelling)
What are some synonyms for Hanukkah?
- Festival of Lights
- Feast of Dedication
- Feast of Lights
What are some words that share a root or word element with Hanukkah?Ģż
What are some words that often get used in discussing Hanukkah?
How isĀ Hanukkah used in real life?
Hanukkah is a time of celebration for Jews and is well-known even among people who are not Jewish.
Almost the end of Hanukkah :( Lighting the menorah gives me a sense of peace. Should do Shabbat more often because I get that same feeling
ā Sara Robbins, APR (@saraxmazing)
Hanukkah is coming!! The only thing I'd add is that while this is great for Jewish kids of Color, it's also great for white Jewish kids to learn from a young age that white =/= normative in Jewish families.
ā Rabbi Emily Cohen (@ThatRabbiCohen)
appreciation tweet for the rugrats hanukkah special!!! itās hard to find jewish representation in the media around the holiday season so this episode has always been really sentimental to me :)
ā prince of cats (@haleymailender)
Try usingĀ Hanukkah!
True or False?Ģż
Hanukkah always takes place on the same eight days in December.
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