Hanukkah is the Jewish winter festival that falls on the 25th of the month of Kislev, which is normally December, and lasts for eight days. Hanukkah 2016 will fall on December 24-January 1. Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew. It celebrates the victory of Jewish forces led by Judah Maccabee over the forces of the Syrian tyrant Antiochus after a three year battle in the second century B.C.E..

The holiday started due to the Talmudic Legend saying that the Maccabees found only one small jar of oil for the kindling of the menorah in the Temple, which was sealed with the seal of the high priest, but contained only enough oil to burn for one night. The oil lasted for eight nights.That’s why they light eight candles on the menorah. The holiday is known as the festival of lights. There are nine candles on the menorah, eight Hanukkah candles and one shammash used to light the other eight candles. The shammash is higher than the other candles so that the Hanukkah candles are not accidentally used.

Hanukkah is celebrated over eight nights, with a present given to children on each day, usually a Hanukkah gelt, or money. Traditions include singing Hanukkah themed songs, eating many oil-fried foods; symbolizing the oil in the Maccabees’ lamps, and playing games such as the dreidel.