However, during the reclaiming ceremonies, the oil lasted for eight days, at which time new oil could be purchased. This is seen as a miracle, and the reason for the number of candles on the Hanukkah menorah.
Eight of the Hanukkah menorah's candles are level with each other, to symbolize the eight days that the oil lasted. The ninth candle which is either elevated or shorter than the others, is used to light the other eight candles, and referred to as the Shamash.
The lighting of the menorah is the most important part of the Jewish Hanukkah celebration. The menorah should be placed in an uncovered window, as part of the purpose for the candles is to spread the word of the miracles the menorah symbolizes. Many families choose to light their menorahs outdoors, just to the left of the entrance of the home.
Candles in a menorah are most commonly white, but any color can be used. Hanukkah lasts for eight days, and each night one lit candle is added to the menorah. So, on the first night, the first candle is lit using the ninth candle, the Shamash attendant. The next night, two candles are lit. This continues until the eighth night, when all of the candles are burning bright.
Traditions and customs can vary from household to household, but the basic steps for lighting the menorah are:. There are several tips that can help you enjoy the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah. Keep in mind that the lighting of menorah is a religious ceremony and should be approached with reverence. Family traditions dictate who lights the menorah.
This is often the head of the household. A woman, man or child can do the honors. Some families practice each member having a personal menorah that each one lights.
No matter if a menorah has seven or nine candles, it is a lovely symbol of religious freedom, associated with deep meaning and tradition. Menorahs can be lit by every member of a household, with several of them burning at the same time. About the Menorah The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and is recorded in the Bible as first appearing in the days of Moses. How Many Candles Are on a Menorah? Seven Candle Menorah The first menorah consisted of six curved branches and one center shaft.
The menorah and its lighted candles can represent several things, including: The flames of God from the burning bush The seven days of creation Spreading the light of Judaism throughout the world Offering light for enjoyment and not as task lighting A symbol of the Jewish state of Israel The image of a menorah appears on many artifacts, including ancient coins and gravestones. Two of the most popular dishes, latkes potato pancakes and sufganiyot jelly donuts , are both deep-fried in oil.
Dating back to before the Maccabee revolt, dreidels four-sided spinning tops used to play a gambling game were originally used as a type of decoy after the Greek-Syrian armies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes enacted a series of laws outlawing many Jewish religious practices. The Jewish people simply moved their studies of the Torah underground, pulling out their dreidels and pretending to play games to confuse soldiers. Since then, dreidel has been resurrected as a fun game played during Hanukkah for chocolate coins called gelt, to commemorate this time.
Each side of the dreidel has a different Hebrew letter, which tells the player how much to put in, or take out, of the pot.
While it rarely seems to be celebrated on the same day, on the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah always falls on the 25th day of the month of Kislev. The first day of Hanukkah can come as early as November or as late as the end of December, which means occasionally Hanukkah overlaps with Thanksgiving or Christmas. The last time we celebrated Thanksgivukkah was in Hanukkah and Christmas saw duel celebrations in and will converge again in Due to the difference in calendars, every year Jewish people around the world—and their gentile friends— are left Googling the start date for Hanukkah.
If you are confused, you can blame transliteration. Originally written in Hebrew, a character-based language, the variations arose when the word had to be written in English, an alphabet-based language.
Lacking exact English equivalents to the Hebrew sounds led to the many spelling variations we see today: Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, Chanukkah. So when writing Happy Hanukkah, have no fear, pick your favorite. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or terms. You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. Skip to Main Content Skip to Search.
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