| By :
Mark Etinger
Chanukah is one of the oldest celebrated holidays in the world. Chanukah is a fun holiday for all ages and is a great way to learn about your Jewish roots. Read on to get a better understanding of this wintry Jewish holiday. 1. History: Many Jewish books chronicle the history of Chanukah. It all began in the 2nd century BC when Jews were prohibited from studying their sacred texts. Their temple had been defiled. Finally, a small group of Israelites called the Maccabees reclaimed their temple and said, "We're not taking it anymore!" The eternal flame in their temple took 8 days to purify and light but the Maccabees only had a one day supply of oil. They chose to light the flame anyway, and the next day, miraculously, appeared more oil. Each day there was enough oil for another night. The menorah didn't burn continuously for eight days, rather, the menorah was lit for eight days. 2. When to celebrate: Chanukah falls on different dates every year because it follows the Jewish calendar. It starts at sundown, sometimes as early as late November. In 2010 it starts on December 1st. In 2011 it starts December 20th. 3. Hannukiah: This 9-branched candelabra is often called a menorah, but technically a menorah has 7 slots. Eight branches represent the eight great nights, and the center slot is called the shamash, or helper candle, and is used to light the others. Each night another candle is lit with the shamash while a blessing is recited. Light the candles from left to right but place them on the right side to begin with. Place the candles in a window so everyone can remember the miracle of Chanukah. If you choose to do this, you can light the candles starting on the left so that when you place the Hannukiah in the window, the candles will appear on the right. 4. Dreidel: The dreidel is a fun game to play. Everyone gets candy or nuts and when you spin the dreidel and sing the dreidel song, each Hebrew letter on the four-sided dreidel dictates that you put candy in or take some out. The game ends when all the candy is gone. 5. Gifts: If you have children, it's typical to give them gifts. Gelt, monies, and chocolate coins are all very popular. 6. Potato Latkes: These shredded potato, onion, matzo meal and salted mixed pancakes are delicious when served with sour cream or applesauce. This holiday is a time to remember Jewish culture. You can read Jewish books, buy some challah and a challah cover and get any other Judaica items from your local Judaica store.
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