Hello ciao:
Thanks for the interesting question.
I'll respond to your questions one at a time.
What are the other spellings for Hanukkah?
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I was able to find the following spellings supported:
Hanukkah
Hannukah
Hanukah
Channuka
Chanukah
Channukah
Chanukkah
Khanooka
Hanuka
Xanuka
More information on Hebrew spelling (in English) can be found at:
The History of Hanukkah: A Beginner's Guide to Transliteration
URL: http://www.ridgenet.org/Szaflik/hanukkah.htm
Quote: "Hanukkah? Chanukah? Confused about different English spellings
of Hebrew words? While scholars have their own preferences in
transliteration, there is no one correct and authoritative way to
render Hebrew words in English characters."
How do you spell Hanukkah?
URL: http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/politics/articles/pol_0082.htm
Quote: "In Hebrew, there is only one spelling for the holiday, but in
English there are various spellings used. Hanukkah, Chanukkah and
Hanuka - they are all the same. If you search for alternative
spellings, you may even come across the phonetic Xanuka. The varied
English spellings are due to the fact that the name of the holiday is
pronounced not with a soft 'c' or 'h,' but rather with the rough,
guttural het, a difficult mouthful for all but the practiced Hebrew
speaker."
What does Hanukkah celebrate? (Tell the story)
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Hanukkah - the festival of lights - celebrates the restoration of
religious freedom and the preservation of Jewish customs as well as
the traditional Jewish worship service.
The following is a nice encapsulation of the Hanukkah story:
"Nearly 2,200 years ago, the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to
force Greek culture upon peoples in his territory. Jews in Judea-now
Israel-were forbidden their most important religious practices as well
as study of the Torah. Although vastly outnumbered, religious Jews in
the region took up arms to protect their community and their religion.
Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and later his son Judah the Maccabee,
the rebel armies became known as the Maccabees.
After three years of fighting, in the year 3597, or about 165 B.C.E.,
the Maccabees victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem's Mount
Moriah. Next they prepared the temple for rededication-in Hebrew,
Hanukkah means "dedication." In the temple they found only enough
purified oil to kindle the temple light for a single day. But
miraculously, the light continued to burn for eight days."
Excerpted from:
Hanukkah - The Festival of Lights
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/hanukkah.html
More on the Hanukkah story can be found at:
The Story of Chanukah
URL: http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/story.html
The Chanukah Story
http://www.electriciti.com/garstang/judaean/chanukka.htm
What is the miracle celebrated at Hanukkah?
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Hanukkah is connected to "the miracle of the oil". When the Jews
retook the Temple, they lit a light with enough oil for only one day.
However, the light burned for eight days.
More information can be found at:
The Victory over Antiochus
URL: http://www1.sympatico.ca/Features/Hanukkah/story.html
Quote: "Then they cleansed and purified the temple, and rekindled the
menorah, a candelabra that symbolized God's Divine Presence. Oddly
enough, although it only held enough oil to burn for a single day, the
menorah burned for eight."
Eight-day Hanukkah celebration recalls miracle
URL: http://www.hilltoptimes.com/archive/19991202/9.html
Quote: "When Judah and his followers tried to light the eternal light
-- the N'er Tamid, found in every Jewish house of worship and never
extinguished -- they were unable to find enough undefiled oil to light
the lamps. However, in one of the Temple chambers, they came upon a
small cruse of oil that, under normal circumstances, would have lasted
only one evening. Miraculously, this small amount of oil kept the
temple lights burning, not for one night, but for eight nights until
new oil fit for temple use could be obtained."
How was it celebrated in Jesus' day?
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In Jesus's time, Hanukkah was only a minor Temple festival, instead of
the major family holiday of today.
I found the following information about the celebration of Hanukkah
during Jesus's time:
The Festivals of Hanukkah and Christmas - Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah
URL: http://christianactionforisrael.org/judeochr/hannxmas/lights.html
Quote: "In Jesus' time there was an extra illumination of the Temple
during the celebration of Hanukkah, the annual commemoration of the
Dedication of the Altar' and of the Sanctuary', in 165 B.C. (some
scholars give 164 B.C.). (I Maccabees 4:36-59; Alfred Edersheim. The
Temple. Its Ministry and Services at the Time of Christ,' p.
334)...Beside the ancient Mosaic 7-branched Menorah, there were "great
candelabras burning in the Women's Court". (Alfred Edersheim. "The
Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", Vol. II, Book IV, chap. VI)...
And in addition to that, the special Hanukkah lamp-stand was lit. It
had eight branches and a leader-lamp called the Shammash' or Servant.
The custom was then, as it still is, to light the Servant lamp first,
and with it kindle the first lamp on the first night. Then, one
additional lamp was lit each night, until on the eighth night all
lamps were burning."
The Importance of Oil
URL: http://www.foodfit.com/cooking/archive/foodfitstable_nov15.asp
Quote: "Originally, before 165 B.C., Hanukkah was a midwinter festival
of lights, a festival common in many cultures. Hanukkah fell near the
end of the olive pressing season in Israel, so there was always an
abundance of oil with which to cook and light lamps during the winter.
The earliest solstice festival probably came about because the best
oil was brought, as with every first fruit, to the Temple in Jerusalem
- creating a sacred time."
How is it celebrated today?
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In modern times, Hanukkah has become a major family holiday. Following
are some of the best descriptions of how Hanukkah is celebrated that I
found:
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
URL: http://www.harperchildrens.com/holiday/hanu3.htm
Quote: "During the festival of Hanukkah, menorahs are lit for eight
days to commemorate the miracle. There are nine candles on the
menorah, one for each night and one for the shamash, or servant, the
candle used to light the others....Families gather at nightfall to
rekindle menorah flames, rededicate themselves to their faith, and to
share in festive meals. Blessings are sung or recited as the candles
are lit. First, a special blessing for the Hanukkah lights, then a
blessing for the miracles that happened long ago, and then the
blessing that is said on the first night of every Jewish holiday. It
is called Shehehayanu....During dinner, there are special potato
pancakes called latkes fried in oil as a reminder of the miraculous
oil....Each night the celebration continues with songs or readings,
games, and small gifts. Children play the dreidel game with spinning
tops; on each of the four sides of the dreidel, there is one of the
four Hebrew letters that stand for a 'Great Miracle Happened
There.'...Hanukkah is celebrated in the synagogue as well as in homes,
and there are prayers and readings fom the Torah that accompany the
lighting of the menorah."
The story of Hanukkah
URL: http://mbhs.bergtraum.k12.ny.us/~a3056/hanukkah.html
What is Hanukkah and how is it celebrated?
URL: http://www.joi.org/qa/hanuk.shtml
Hanukkah:
URL: http://judaism.about.com/library/holidays/chanukah/bl_chanukah.htm
Why has the celebration changed?
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Apparently, Hanukkah evolved into the holiday it is today starting in
the middle ages - as a way to "compete" with Christmas.
When the Sun Stands Still: Celebrating December
URL: http://pulseplanet.nationalgeographic.com/ax/features/1200/
Quote: "According to religious scholars, Hanukkah evolved from a
low-key harvesttime event to a more popular winter celebration, in
part to draw some attention from the Christian holiday of Christmas."
A Celebration of Light
URL: http://www.foodfit.com/cooking/archive/foodfitstable_nov15.asp
Quote: "It was in the Middle Ages that Hanukkah evolved form a
distinctly minor Temple festival to a major family one, during which
fasting and mourning is forbidden and singing and celebrating
encouraged. It was about that time that the deep-fried savories and
sweets emerged amidst the celebration."
When is it celebrated?
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Hanukkah begins on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev, the third month of
the Hebrew lunar calendar, and usually falls in December.
This year, however, Hanukkah starts at sundown on November 29th and
lasts until sunset on December 6th.
I hope this information is of help to you.
If you need any clarification of the information I have provided,
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Thank you.
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Hanukkah date 2002 |
