Hanukkah
Description
The eight-day holiday of Hanukkah is associated with events from the 2nd century BCE when the troops of King Antiochus captured the Jerusalem Temple.
Jewish rebels led by Judah Maccabee recaptured the temple, which had been turned into a pagan sanctuary, and rededicated it. According to tradition, they had almost no oil to light the menorah, with supplies sufficient for only one day. However, the flame burned for eight days until more oil could be found.
The central ritual of Hanukkah is the lighting of the menorah, a candelabrum with eight candles. In memory of the oil, it is customary to eat food prepared with oil.
Among European Jews, a tradition emerged of giving children a small amount of money, as well as nuts and raisins, on this day.
