A Winter Festival of Dedication

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Dedication, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days in the Temple of Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah is a time of joy, celebration, and tradition, and there are many interesting and unusual facts about this holiday.

1. Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Jewish Bible. While the story of the miracle of the oil is mentioned in the Talmud, Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. This has led some scholars to believe that Hanukkah may have originated as a later Jewish holiday that was not observed in ancient times.
2. Hanukkah is not a “major” Jewish holiday. While Hanukkah is a significant holiday in the Jewish faith, it is not considered one of the “major” holidays like Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.
3. Hanukkah is celebrated on different dates each year. Unlike many holidays that are celebrated on the same date every year, Hanukkah is based on the Jewish calendar, which is a lunar calendar. This means that Hanukkah falls on different dates each year, usually in December.
4. The “dreidel” game is a popular Hanukkah tradition. During Hanukkah, it is common for Jewish families to play the “dreidel” game, which is a spinning top game played with small wooden or plastic tops. Each side of the dreidel is marked with a Hebrew letter, and the game is played with small coins or chocolate coins called “gelt.”
5. Hanukkah is not the “Jewish Christmas.” While Hanukkah and Christmas often coincide, they are two separate holidays with different origins and traditions. Hanukkah is a celebration of the miracle of the oil, while Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. There is a verse in the Christian New Testament in the book of John that mentions that Jesus was in the Temple during the Feast of Dedication.

These are just a few of the many unusual and interesting facts about Hanukkah. Whether you are Jewish or not, this holiday is a time of joy, celebration, and tradition that is worth learning about and celebrating.