A festival in which the right of every person to follow their own religion is celebrated. During Chanukah, many foods are cooked in oil, and doughnuts and 'Jewish chips,' or potato pancakes are popular. Many games are also played during this time.
pronounced "hah-na-kah", this eight day long holiday occurs during December. This holiday commemorates a great victory in Jewish history allowing the Jewish people to freely perform their religious functions.
"dedication" The minor winter festival celebrating the victory of the Maccabees over the forces of Antiochus in the 2nd cent. BCE as recounted in the apocryphal books, I and II Macc. Observance includes cumulatively lighting candles or oil wicks in a eight-branched candelabra, known as a Chanukkiah, on eight consecutive nights; a ninth candle or wick, the "Shamash" (servant), is used to light the others.
The Festival of Lights, a Jewish festival that falls in December.
Eight day festival of recalling the rededication of the temple
Eight-day holiday that falls during the winter season. Celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees' defeat of the occupying Greek army. Increasing numbers of candles are lit on a menorah on each night of the festival.
Festival of Lights. Eight day holiday commemorating the repudiation of Greek anti-religious decrees and the subsequent restoration and rededication of the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the year 165 b.c.e. At least one of the eight days falls on a Sabbath. Usually occurs in December.
(Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC
(KHAH-noo-kah) Winter-time celebration of the holiday of lights, it means “dedication,†referring to the re-dedication of the Temple after the successful Maccabee revolt.
eight-day festival beginning 25 Kislev, commemorating the Maccabees' rededication of the *Beis HaMikdash in the second century B.C.E., and marked by the kindling of lights (Siddur, p. 339)
Also known as the "Festival of Lights," commemorates the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Chanukah is celebrated for eight days during which one additional candle is added to the menorah on each night of the holiday.
Literally, "dedication" in Hebrew. The winter holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors called the Hasmoneans defeated the Syrians who had defiled the temple and attempted to force the Jews to assimilate. Also spelled Hanukkah (and in a number of other ways), as which see what Merriam Webster has to say about it.
Means "Dedication" [festival of] and traditionally commemorates both the battle triumph of the Maccabees in recapturing Jerusalem and the temple miracle of the olive oil burning for 8 straight days which the rabbis teach.
Festival of Lights. Click here for details
Eight-day Festival of Lights celebrated in December in memory of the victory of a small band of Jews, the Maccabeans, over Antiochus III, the Great of Syria, who tried to Helenize Judea, a province bordering Egypt (200-150 B.C.). This meant interference in the succession to the high priesthood. Resistance of the Jews lead to Antiochus giving orders that Judaism must be destroyed. The Temple was desecrated. On these eight days candles are lit to celebrate freedom of religion and the miraculous burning of oil in a little cruse which was used to light the Temple menorah for one day and instead burned eight. The Maccabean revolt led to new ideas and new literature which has influenced Jews in our own day. (See Grayzel, Solomon: A History of the Jews. A Mentor Book. New American Library, N.Y., 1948.)
Literally, "dedication"--an eight-day festival, beginning 25 Kislev, commemorating the Maccabees' rededication of the Temple in the second century B.C.E. and marked by the kindling of lights.
A eight-day holiday, starting on the 25th of Kislev, commemorating the rededication of the Temple; see Ch. 48.
It is a holiday that commemorates the event that took place during the Greek control over the Jewish homeland and were forcing their religious beliefs on the Jews. Judah Maccabee led the fight against Hellenization and liberated the country and the Temple. After it was cleansed, only enough oil was found to last one day but miraculously it burned for eight days. Hence we light candles for eight days of Chanukah in a special candle holder called a Chanukyah in memory of the heroic deeds of the Maccabees.
