Hanukkah

This is a Jewish festival commemorating an early victory in the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, the recapture of Jerusalem in the year 164BC, and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. It is known as the Festival of Lights. It is observed for 8 nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, occurring from late November to late December. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a menorah. One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. The unique candle is called the shamash and each night one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival. Other festivities include signing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods.