Hanukkah 2015 begins at sunset on Sunday, December 6, and
ends on Monday, December 14.
Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the
victory of the ancient Israelites over the Syrian Greek
army, and the subsequent miracle of restoring the menorah in
the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The miracle of Hanukkah is
that only one vial of oil was found with just enough oil for
one day, and yet it lasted for eight full days.
Some
celebrate Hanukkah at home by lighting the menorah
(candelabrum with nine branches) each night, light one
additional candle to the number from the previous night,
playing dreidel (spinning top), and eating special foods
unique to Hanukkah. Some people also sing Hanukkah songs or
exchange gifts after lighting the menorah.
Many Hanukkah foods are deep-fried in oil, symbolizing the
oil from the menorah used in the Temple. These include
latkes, or potato pancakes, and jelly doughnuts. Many also
make the Sephardic delicacy bimuelos (deep fried dough
balls) and use applesauce as a topping. If anything is deep
fried, it must be good
.
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