What is the story of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that usually falls between late November to late December. Hanukkah is the Jewish word for ‘dedication’.
The festival reminds Jews of a time over 2500 years ago, when a Syrian king named Antiochus tried to make the Jewish people worship the Greek gods. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple, and he ordered the Jews to bow down before it. The Ten Commandments forbid Jews to worship statues or idols and so they refused.
A small group of Jews called the Maccabees rebelled and fought back against the king. After a three-year war they recaptured Jerusalem from the Syrians. During the war the temple was all but destroyed.
The Jewish people cleaned and repaired the temple. When they were finished, they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp (Menorah), which was a symbol of God’s presence.
Only one small jar of oil was found, with only enough oil for one day. But miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.
Hanukkah symbolises how God looked after the Jewish people at this difficult time. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, reflecting the miracle of the oil burning for this long. It starts on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which can be at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
It is also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
On each night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit on an eight-stemmed candlestick called a menorah or a hanukkiah. As the candle is lit, blessings, prayers, and songs are shared. The eight candles represent the eight days which the oil miraculously burned in the temple.
Meals are cooked and enjoyed together. Some dishes, such as latkes (a kind of potato fritter), pancakes and doughnuts, have a special significance as they are fried in oil. When preparing these items, Jewish people remember the miracle of the oil in the temple.
Gifts are also shared, and children may also receive Hanukkah money called Gelt. Some families give a small present to children on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.
Games are also played together, particularly one with a spinning top called a dreidel. Players start with a number of small pieces (often sweets or raisins) and take turns to spin the dreidel. Depending on which letter is facing them when it stops, players may win or lose pieces. Players are out of the game if they lose all their pieces.
Celebrating and learning about Hanukkah
These are some ideas you could implement to help children within your care celebrate Hanukkah:
Further resources
