10 Random Hanukkah Facts

10 Random Hanukkah Facts

Image via Wikipedia

1.    Some people claim that the dreidel game originated when Jewish children were not allowed to study Torah. If an official came along, they would quickly pull out these toys and appear to just be playing a game.

2.    Chanukah can fall anytime between the middle of November and beginning of January. The exact dates are decided according to the Jewish calendar, which is Lunar-based. The 8-day holiday starts on 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

3.    The candles used for lighting Hanukah Menorah are supposed to burn for at least half an hour after the stars come out.

4.    The festival of Hanukkah has become more commercial with the giving of gifts, due to its proximity to Christmas. Earlier giving gifts was not a part of its tradition.

5.    The menorah symbolizes the burning light in the temple, as well as marking the eight days of the Hanukkah festival.

6.    Many traditional Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil, in remembrance of the oil that burned in the temple. In the United States, the most widespread Hanukkah food is latkes, or potato pancakes, a custom that may have developed in Eastern Europe.

7.    As in many other celebrations of many other cultures, Hanukkah is about family. It’s a joyous time of year when those you love gather together to share food, blessings, and music, as the traditions are passed on through the ages.

8.    There are 17 different ways to spell Hanukkah.

9.    Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates national and religious freedom. The story of Chanukah dates back more than 2,000 years ago, when a brutal Greek king, Antiochus, was ruling the Jewish people of Judaea. The Jewish people rose up against the king, restoring their Temple, removing the Greek idols and returning to the practice of their monotheistic faith.

10.        The word Hanukkah means dedication.          

Other Random Facts:

10 Random Car Facts

10 Random Music Facts

10 Random Animal Facts

10 Random Sports Facts

10 Random TV Facts