Every year around the same time as Catholic countries celebrate Christmas, Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah, one of the main national holidays. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds to November or December. It lasts eight days.
Hanukkah history
For a long time before our era, the Jews peacefully coexisted with the Greeks, these peoples had many common features and found a common language. There were no serious contradictions between them: law-abiding Jews obeyed the rules established by Alexander the Great from the time of his conquests. An end to the peaceful world was put by the Greek king Antiochus: he forbade the traditional custom of circumcision, and the Jews had already refused to comply with this law. They wanted to preserve their faith, but the new prohibitions of Antiochus prevented this: it was impossible to study the Torah, observe the laws of Shabbat, teach the Jewish faith to children. Everyone was forced to adhere to the Greek religion.
The famous Maccabean family organized the Jewish uprising, but the strong Greek army outnumbered them in armament, numbers and training. Therefore, the leaders of the rebels avoided open battles, tried not to meet with large armies, but attacked individual Greek detachments. For three years this almost partisan war was waged and gradually it drove the conquerors out of the country.
According to legend, after the victory, the Jews had almost no oil left for the lamps in the Temple of Jerusalem. But a miracle happened - the lamps burned for eight whole days, which was enough to prepare new oil. The temple was consecrated anew. And now every year the Jews celebrate Hanukkah in honor of this miracle: the holiday lasts eight days, and its name, according to assumptions, comes from the word "consecration".
Hanukkah traditions
Hanukkah is celebrated throughout the week, and traditionally begins in the evenings. Jews are not prohibited from working during Hanukkah. These days are considered working days, and only schools are closed during the holiday, which is therefore called "children's". The main Hanukkah tradition is the lighting of candles on Jewish Hanukkah, which is similar to the seven-century menorah used in the Temple. After ignition, children are given money, and today sometimes other gifts are given, but a small amount should be given anyway. During the holiday, children often play dreidl - a spinning top with six sides, on which the phrase "A great miracle happened here" is written.
On Hanukkah, they eat potato, flour or cheese latkes - delicacies fried in oil, similar to pancakes, bake pancakes, make donuts with fillings. These days it is customary to eat dairy products, so almost every dish consists of cheese or milk. Almost everything is fried in oil, and sour cream is most often used as a sauce.