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Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, honors the Maccabees’ victory over the Seleucid Empire and the miracle of a single night’s oil burning for eight days in the rededicated Temple of Jerusalem.
The Maccabees were a group of Jews who led a successful uprising against the Seleucid Empire. The revolt began with Alexander the Great's death and the subsequent division of his kingdom, and it resulted in the capture of Jerusalem.
The annual winter holiday celebrates both events, which ultimately resulted in increased religious freedom for the Jewish people.
In the 1800s, Jewish immigrants to the United States began searching for ways to maintain their cultural identity in an overwhelmingly Christian environment. Because Hanukkah often falls around the same time as Christmas, Jewish congregations began adapting Christmastime traditions like gift giving to their own holiday.
Today, many Jews interpret Hanukkah in the context of several centuries of history, including the Holocaust. Alan Avery-Peck’s essay explores how the holiday's meaning has evolved according to each generation's struggles.
This calendar, maintained by the Reform Judaism organization, not only shows when each holiday is to be celebrated in the current year, but also includes short histories and common rituals.
This short video guides viewers through the process, from the supplies required to the order in which the candles are lit. It also covers the prayers that are recited nightly and associated blessings for each individual night.
Deb Perelman, author of seminal food blog Smitten Kitchen, walks us through her foolproof recipe for classic potato pancakes. Among her tips: choose russet potatoes for a lighter latke, use a towel to wring the water out for extra crispiness, and add a sprinkle of baking powder for a little more lift.
Mediterranean-focused food blogger Tori Avey shares her best recipe for fluffy, sugar-dusted sufganiyot and explains the history of the sweet that combines European and North African traditions.
The 1990s and early 2000s were a boom time for television specials, including dozens of Hanukkah specials. See classics like Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song" on "SNL" or the special "Rugrats" episode for the holiday.
The two distinct holidays share foundational religious texts but very different holiday origins. But since they both occur near the end of the year, traditions have overlapped, especially with regard to gift giving. Some Hanukkah participants have also adopted Christmas traditions for their own celebrations, including 6-foot-tall menorah trees and Mensch on a Bench.
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