Hanukkah is a minor holiday that commemorates the victory of the Jews against the Syrian-Greeks in the Maccabean War of 165 BCE. The story about the oil wasn't first written until 400 years later, in the 3rd century.
Answer:
The above answer is untrue. The paragraph in the Talmud (Shabbat 21b) referring to the instituting of Hanukkah, which was authored by the Sages of the Mishna (ibid), occurs also in Megillat Ta'anit (ch.9), which was written less than two centuries after the events of Hanukkah. Josephus (Antiquities ch.12) mentions celebrating for eight days the re-dedication of the Temple; and the book of Maccabees (I, 4:36; and II, 1:18) mentions it still earlier. Moreover, on Hanukkah the chief celebration is not for the military victory; it's for the miracle of the oil (Talmud, Shabbat 21b). As an augmentation to the celebration of that miracle, we also thank God during Hanukkah for the Hasmoneans' miraculous military victories (during which they ousted the Seleucids and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews, making possible the rededication of the Temple).
The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up sacrifices to the idol. One of the leading elder Jewish sages called upon the people to keep observing the Torah anyway; and if necessary, to use force in resisting the decrees. When a Hellenized Jew offered a sacrifice to the Greek idols in a nearby village, the sage killed him as well as the Greek overseer. This brought a violent reaction from the Greeks; and the loyal Jews, led by the Hasmonean family, were forced to retreat from their towns and strike out at the Greeks in an attempt to oust them from the Holy Land and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Torah-Jews were heavily outnumbered by the attacking Greek armies, but God gave them miraculous victories again and again. After three years of struggle, the Greek armies retreated from Jerusalem, and the Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) entered the Holy Temple which the Greeks had defiled, reconsecrated it to God, and began the Temple service once more. Among other things, they wanted to relight the olive oil candelabrum (Exodus ch. 25), but could only find one day's supply of undefiled oil - and it would take eight days to make and bring some more.
Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought. The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence was still there. The Torah-community was overjoyed, because God's presence meant everything to them.
This is what Hanukkah represents: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.
(The Hanukkah-menorah, or hanukkiyah, is a special form of the original seven-branched menorah. Our Hanukkah-menorahs have eight spaces for oil, or candles, to mark each of the eight days for which the oil lasted and a ninth to hold the shamash, a candle used to light the others.)
The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.
Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil, just as we have no special occasion to mark Abraham's victory (Genesis ch.14), or those of Moses (Numbers ch.21), Joshua, Deborah (Judges ch.4), Gideon (Judges ch.6-7), Jephthah (Judges ch.11), or King David. And though the Hasmonean battles continued for two decades after the retaking of the Temple, the Sages instituted Hanukkah immediately after the miracle of the oil.
It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."
No; because the miracle of Hanukkah occurred after the canon of the Hebrew Bible was sealed.
Candles are lit for all 8 nights of Hanukkah.
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Hanukkah lasts 8 days. 44 candles are needed.
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None. But Hanukkah involves the lighting of NINE candles during eight days.
The Hanukkah candles don't have names, except for referring to them generically, as neirot Hanukkah (candles of Hanukkah). The one candle which does have a name is the extra one, used to light the others, which is called the shamash (helper).See also:More about Hanukkah
Days 6 and 7 of Hanukkah, known as "Zot Hanukkah" or "The Eighth Day of Hanukkah," hold special significance. On these days, the lighting of the Hanukkah candles continues, and the menorah is fully illuminated with all eight candles. It is a time to reflect on the miracle of the oil in the Temple and to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.
When the Jews celebrate Hanukkah, they use a menorah, which has eight candles on it. According to tradition, God preserved the little oil that the Maccabees had for eight days. These eight candles symbolize the eight days.
Yes, two candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah, and each night one more is added till there are 9 candles that are lit on Hanukkah. One is the helper candle ("shamash") used to light the other 8, which symbolize the 8 days of Hanukkah.
On Hanukkah, there are eight candles, plus a "shamash" candle which is used to light the others. Collectively, the candles constitute a Menorah (sometimes called a Hanukkiyah).Answer:Celebrations: lighting candles each night. Singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. Reciting the Hallel prayer. Eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt. The Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.It is called the festival of lights.