What is Hanukkah? Find out!

The word “Hanukkah” is the Hebrew word (the original language of the Old Testament) that means “dedication.” Hanukkah is an 8-day celebration that takes us back to a very important event in the life of the Jewish people (the historical nation Jesus was born through – Matthew 1). Hanukkah honors the Maccabees and celebrates the cleansing and rededication of their Temple (their place of worship) in Jerusalem (their capital in the land of Israel) after it had been damaged by the Greeks.

Very simply, the celebration of Hanukkah is a yearly reminder of the miraculous victory God gave His people, when they were on the brink of complete annihilation. Hanukkah is also called “The Feast of Dedication” or the “Festival of Lights.”

Why the candles are lit?

During Hanukkah, candles are lit each night to remember the miracle that took place during the rededication of the Temple. According to Jewish history, when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, they found only one day’s worth of pure oil needed to light the menorah, the lampstand God commanded to burn continually in His House (Exodus 27:20–21). Miraculously, that small amount of oil lasted eight full days, long enough for new oil to be prepared and sanctified.

Because of this miracle, Jewish families light one additional candle on the menorah (hanukkiah) for eight nights, celebrating God’s faithfulness, His light, and His power to preserve His people even in the darkest times.