The Hanukkah Menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum that supports either candles or oil. The structure is one of the most critical aspects of the Hanukkah Jewish holiday. It is usually raised about 32 feet high to gives the participants who join in the celebrations an easy time to get a view of the lamp. The event always happens in December. In 2019, the preparations will begin on the sunset of the 22nd till the 30th of the same month at twilight. The ranges between these days give the Jewish quality time to light the menorah by igniting the flames on each candle, a day each, a few minutes before sunset. The first candle is lit on the 22nd; the candles get lit from the left to the right direction. The ninth flame is viewed as a special gesture since it is used to light the other candles and is referred to as the Shamash. According to the Jewish culture, the use of the Shamash prevents the people from going against the Shabbat. Therefore, it enables them to preserve the laws that guard the Hanukkah Menorah. Here are some of the factors that make it a special occasion.
A Background Check of the Holiday
The celebrations do not symbolize Christmas since it is not a Jewish but a Christian event. Instead, it commemorates the Festival of Lights. These flames are lit as a symbol of victory that the Maccabees achieved over Syria. It is also a vital function in the Jewish calendar because it coincides with the time in which the Second Temple of Jerusalem was presented to God as a place of worship. This was a historical time that is thought to have been around 165 BC. Importantly, when the Maccabees were making preparations of their traditions, they could only afford to keep the Temple lit using oil that could burn out after one night. Surprisingly, the flame did not go off until the eighth day. The events in the Temple continued until the ninth day when they miraculously received additional oil, which they considered holy for the night. It is this miracle that marks the Jewish celebration of the Festival of Lights. During Hanukkah, children receive different types of gifts. However, this only happens in locations where there are Christian settlements.
Is there a Second Miracle which is celebrated during Hanukkah?
The first miracle is where the Temple remained lit for eight days without the flames dying. The other miracle is one where the Maccabees went to war with Syria before matching to the Temple to light the oil lamps. There was a group of Jewish fighters who were not fully equipped with the essentials of winning a fight. It was during this historical time when the Jews were being enslaved by Greek Assyrians and needed to restore their freedom of worship. At the end of the battle, they helped Israel in achieving the victory of worshipping freely and carrying out their different forms of religious practices. They also got to play the Dreidel, where they used to spin a four-sided object as a symbol of Hanukkah.
What Kinds of Food do the Jewish Prepare during the Festival of Light?
Since Hanukkah is about the sustenance provided by the oil to light up many flames, the Jews only consume foods prepared using oil during this festival. The meals must be fried with oil, and there should be no soup. Some of these foods include doughnuts and latkes, which are commonly known as fried potato pancakes. Most of all, they prefer to consume food communally and share what they have prepared with their neighbors.
Hanukkah is a famous festival for the Jewish community because it defines their culture and the various aspects of their religious beliefs. You can uniquely celebrate this day by purchasing Menorah products.
