Hanukkah: How an ancient revolt sparked the Festival of Lights
Published 23 Dec 2019, 10:11 GMT
Every night of Hanukkah, one more candle is lit in the menorah. Some may celebrate at home, while others, like these children in Colorado Springs, may light the menorah during Hanukkah services at their local synagogue.
Photograph by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette, ApLatkes, or potato pancakes, are a traditional dish for Hanukkah. Deep fried and topped with sour cream (and sometimes apples), they commemorate the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.
Photograph by Andrew Scrivani, The New York Times, ReduxSufganiyot, a kind of deep-fried jelly doughnut, is another favourite treat eaten during Hanukkah to honour the miracle of the oil. Jewish bakeries, like the Marzipan Bakery in Jerusalem (above), prepare them for the holiday each year.
Photograph by Lior Mizrahi, Flash90, ReduxKnown in Hebrew as a sevivon, a four-sided dreidel ('spinning top' in Yiddish) is used in a holiday game of chance. It has a different Hebrew letter printed on each side. The letters form an acronym of the phrase: Nes gadol hayah sham, 'a great miracle happened there.'
Photograph by Jonathan Nackstrand, AFP, GettyFoil-wrapped chocolate money, called gelt, is often given during the Festival of Lights and used to place bets when playing dreidel. In the early 19th century, American chocolate manufacturers observed the Jewish custom of giving children coins during Hanukkah and got the idea to make chocolate coins.
Photograph by Alexander Heinl, Picture Alliance, Dpa, ApPublic menorahs, like this one in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, are a common sight during the holiday season. Lighting the last candle signals the final night of the Hanukkah.
Photograph by Paul Zinken, Picture Alliance, Dpa, Ap