Hanukkah
Eight-night Jewish celebration
Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, usually falling in December.
It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a military victory in the second century BCE, when according to tradition a day's worth of oil miraculously burned for eight days.
Families light candles on a menorah, adding one each night, and exchange gifts.
Also spelled Chanukah.
Hebrew-lettered spinning top
- latkesFried shredded potato cakes
- MaccabeesJudean revolt leaders
- shamashMenorah's attendant flame
- geltSlang for cash
Torah · synagogue · rabbi · Hebrew · kosher · kippah · Shabbat · mitzvah
Judean revolt leaders
- TempleNamed religious structure
- rededicationRenewed formal commitment
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
Judah Maccabee · Jerusalem · victory · resistance · Second Temple · ancient · liberation
Wax lights with wicks
- illuminationProvision of light
- flameBurning gas made visible
- shamashMenorah's attendant flame
- kindleStart a blaze
olive oil · glow · wick · burning · brightness · flicker · nightfall · beeswax
Items freely given
- familyRelated people together
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- gamesOrganized competitive activities
- songsMusical vocal compositions
decorations · cards · parties · children · tradition · joy · feast · storytelling
Hanukkah's full length
- winterYear's coldest quarter
- DecemberYear's final month
- lunar calendarTimekeeping by moon phases
- twenty-fifthPosition after twenty-four
dreidel
Hebrew-lettered spinning top
gelt · Torah · synagogue · rabbi · Hebrew · kosher · kippah · Shabbat · mitzvah · Talmud
Maccabees
Judean revolt leaders
- TempleNamed religious structure
- rededicationRenewed formal commitment
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
Judah Maccabee · revolt · Jerusalem · victory · resistance · Second Temple · ancient · liberation
candles
Wax lights with wicks
- illuminationProvision of light
- flameBurning gas made visible
- shamashMenorah's attendant flame
kindle · olive oil · glow · wick · burning · brightness · flicker · nightfall · beeswax · lighting
gifts
Items freely given
- familyRelated people together
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- gamesOrganized competitive activities
songs · decorations · cards · parties · children · tradition · joy · feast · storytelling · recipes
eight nights
Hanukkah's full length
- winterYear's coldest quarter
- DecemberYear's final month
- lunar calendarTimekeeping by moon phases
- JudaismShabbat, kosher, Passover, Torah, Yom Kippur
- Cultural FestivalsChinese New Year, Diwali, Oktoberfest, Mardi Gras, Holi
- Light Festivalslanterns, Diwali, lantern festival, light shows, illuminations
- observancesholidays, holy days, commemorations, anniversaries, Remembrance Day
- Religious HolidaysEaster Sunday, Passover, Pentecost, Good Friday, Ramadan
- Winter HolidaysChristmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, winter solstice
HanukkahChristmas
Winter nativity celebration
Easter · Diwali · Eid al-Fitr · Eid al-Adha · Ramadan
HanukkahYom Kippur
Annual Jewish atonement observance
Passover · Rosh Hashanah · Sukkot · Shavuot · Shabbat
HanukkahTisha B'Av
Jewish fast commemorating calamities
- happy HanukkahJewish winter festival greeting
- Hanukkah traditionsCustoms of the eight-day festival
- Hanukkah candlesRitual flames for December holiday
- Hanukkah lightsCeremonial winter festival candles
- Hanukkah dinnerMeal during Festival of Lights
- Hanukkah cardSeasonal Jewish greeting paper