Days of the Calendar: Hanukkah
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
The historical significance of Hanukkah dates back to roughly 200 B.C. At this time the Jews were subjected to the rule of Syrian King Antiochus IV, who outlawed their religion and ordered them to worship Greek gods.
Through an uprising, led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews drove out their oppressors and restored their temple. Despite having only enough oil left to keep the flames lit for a single day, it lasted eight. Since then, the eight-day Hanukkah celebration remained a yearly tradition, as Jews remember their emergence from the darkness of oppression. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we learn more about Hanukkah.
Through an uprising, led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews drove out their oppressors and restored their temple. Despite having only enough oil left to keep the flames lit for a single day, it lasted eight. Since then, the eight-day Hanukkah celebration remained a yearly tradition, as Jews remember their emergence from the darkness of oppression. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we learn more about Hanukkah.
Days of the Calendar: Hanukkah
This eight day long Jewish holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be learning more about Hanukkah.
The historical significance of Hanukkah dates back to roughly 200 B.C. At this time the Jews were subjected to the rule of Syrian King Antiochus IV, who outlawed their religion and ordered them to worship Greek gods.
As Antiochus’ soldiers terrorized Jerusalem, he ordered the massacre of its people and the desecration of their Second Holy Temple. They accomplished this by erecting an altar to Zeus within the temple and subsequently using it as a spot to sacrifice pigs.
An uprising launched in response, and this effort was eventually led by Judah Maccabee, otherwise known as “The Hammer.” While they camped in the Judean hills, Judah and his rag-tag army slowly drove their oppressors out of the area with the use of guerilla tactics.
The temple was then restored and the menorah lit. The menorah was a candleholder with spaces for seven candles, and these candles were meant to represent knowledge and creation. The candles were meant to burn continuously without interruption; unfortunately, the Jews only found enough pure olive oil left intact to keep the flames lit for a single day.
Incredibly, what followed was considered a miracle: the limited supply of oil burned for a total of eight nights instead of just one, and this gave the Jews enough time to find more. Since then, the eight-day Hanukkah celebration remained a yearly tradition, as Jews remember their emergence from the darkness of oppression.
In tribute, each year Jews lite their very own version of the temple menorah, known as a hanukiah. This piece includes eight branches, in addition to a helper candle to light the others. With each day of the holiday, a new candle is lit and prayers are recited.
Hanukkah tradition also incorporated the preparation of special foods, including baked and fried foods made with olive oil, such as potato latkes.
Similar to other cultures, Hanukkah eventually took on its own gift-giving tradition. It primarily took the form of “gelt,” which was either cash or chocolate coins. Interestingly, this custom originated in the seventeenth century when Polish Jews gave their children money to pay their teachers. Of course, the youths eventually demanded their own share.
Another popular tradition was that of a four-sided spinning top called a “dreidel.” In Yiddish, dreidel meant to turn, and the custom was said to have started as a way for Jews to secretly study their religion when it was outlawed.
Each side of this toy was labeled with a letter, and these letters represented a certain outcome: players could win or lose the entire pot of coins with one spin. The letters also stood for the phrase “A Great Miracle Happened There.”
Hanukkah is a time of remembrance, and for community and family to unite. Due to its importance and enduring relevance, it continues to be celebrated and practiced more than two thousand years after its foundation.
This eight day long Jewish holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be learning more about Hanukkah.
The historical significance of Hanukkah dates back to roughly 200 B.C. At this time the Jews were subjected to the rule of Syrian King Antiochus IV, who outlawed their religion and ordered them to worship Greek gods.
As Antiochus’ soldiers terrorized Jerusalem, he ordered the massacre of its people and the desecration of their Second Holy Temple. They accomplished this by erecting an altar to Zeus within the temple and subsequently using it as a spot to sacrifice pigs.
An uprising launched in response, and this effort was eventually led by Judah Maccabee, otherwise known as “The Hammer.” While they camped in the Judean hills, Judah and his rag-tag army slowly drove their oppressors out of the area with the use of guerilla tactics.
The temple was then restored and the menorah lit. The menorah was a candleholder with spaces for seven candles, and these candles were meant to represent knowledge and creation. The candles were meant to burn continuously without interruption; unfortunately, the Jews only found enough pure olive oil left intact to keep the flames lit for a single day.
Incredibly, what followed was considered a miracle: the limited supply of oil burned for a total of eight nights instead of just one, and this gave the Jews enough time to find more. Since then, the eight-day Hanukkah celebration remained a yearly tradition, as Jews remember their emergence from the darkness of oppression.
In tribute, each year Jews lite their very own version of the temple menorah, known as a hanukiah. This piece includes eight branches, in addition to a helper candle to light the others. With each day of the holiday, a new candle is lit and prayers are recited.
Hanukkah tradition also incorporated the preparation of special foods, including baked and fried foods made with olive oil, such as potato latkes.
Similar to other cultures, Hanukkah eventually took on its own gift-giving tradition. It primarily took the form of “gelt,” which was either cash or chocolate coins. Interestingly, this custom originated in the seventeenth century when Polish Jews gave their children money to pay their teachers. Of course, the youths eventually demanded their own share.
Another popular tradition was that of a four-sided spinning top called a “dreidel.” In Yiddish, dreidel meant to turn, and the custom was said to have started as a way for Jews to secretly study their religion when it was outlawed.
Each side of this toy was labeled with a letter, and these letters represented a certain outcome: players could win or lose the entire pot of coins with one spin. The letters also stood for the phrase “A Great Miracle Happened There.”
Hanukkah is a time of remembrance, and for community and family to unite. Due to its importance and enduring relevance, it continues to be celebrated and practiced more than two thousand years after its foundation.
