When is Hanukkah or Chanukah celebrated and what is its meaning ? Popularly known as the Feast of Lights, Hanukkah has as its date of celebration the 25 of the Jewish month of Kislev and a determined and calculated duration of eight days.In the Gregorian calendar, it is usual to coincide with the December.For the curious, this year will begin on Sunday, December 22 and will last, after eight days, until Monday, December 30.

Now that we know when Hanukkah or Chanukah is celebrated it's time to know what its meaning is Logically, the first thing is to know that the word Chanukah, as such, means inauguration.Although coinciding in time with the Christian Christmas , it is not Jewish Christmas.In this case, Hanukkah also celebrates a miracle of God but for the Jewish people, almost two centuries before the first Christmas.
Origin of Hanukkah
After 40 months at war against the Greeks, superior in all to the Jews, they resisted the attack miraculously.It would be as if Israel, today, would repel an attack from all the powers of the world.they did, although they lost their Sacred Temple that completely destroyed.
It was not long before he picked it up again and opened its doors again.It was a 25th day from Kislev, but when everything was ready for the reopening and they turned on the Menorah , had no oil for it .They only found a small vessel of pure oil, sealed by the High Priest, clearly not enough.Or maybe not.

Divine Providence wanted to have a miracle and the vessel of burning oil for eight days , just what it took to produce a new batch of oil.By the way, olive.Since then, the Jewish community celebrates Hanukkah as the Festival of Luminaries.In addition, these eight days add to its Shajarit prayer, some special praise from Halel.Of course, they also light the januquia.
The Feast of the Luminaries
Talk about the januquia , is to speak of the already famous 8-arm candlestick with one of them somewhat longer.The first night the candle is lit on the highest arm.After this, every day a new candle is lit, until the eight days are completed with eight candles.

The candles should last, minimum, 30 minutes lit .And if you can, put them next to the portal of the house , but outside it , better than better.In fact, in Israel, many houses have small glass boxes, so that the candles stay lit in winter.
Finally, the tradition marks that families and friends are gather around the ignition and, incidentally, exchange gifts with each other.The tradition of the little ones playing with a sevivon , a sort of whirligig ancestral that is still valid thanks to them.

The food is also traditional.In Hanukkah the levivot, the potato cakes or the dough balls with jam are typical.All very light, but it's only eight days.
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