Channukah

Chanukah or Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights. Candles are lit each night for eight nights to remember when Judah the Maccabee and his outnumbered band of Jewish warriors recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem from the Syrians in 65 BC, cleansed it, rededicated it, and proclaimed an eight day dedication of the altar. It is said that when the Maccabees entered the Temple, they found enough oil to last only a single day –but, a miracle happened, and the oil lasted eight days.

It is a festival of thanksgiving and gift giving and a holiday of fun and joy. Guests invited for Chanukah festivities usually take a small gift to the children, such as chocolate coins.