The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) were miraculously victorious. When they reached the Temple grounds, they immediately reconsecrated it to God. As part of this action, they relit the Menorah (Exodus ch.25), which was fueled with olive oil. However, it soon became apparent that there was only sufficient oil to keep the candelabra burning for one single day - 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 still dwelt in the Holy Temple. 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. A ninth candle nearby is called the shamash and is used to light the others.)
The eight-day rededication of the Temple is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees (I, 4:56-59; and II, 1:18); and Josephus mentions the eight-day festival in Antiquities ch.12.
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."
It is part of the Jewish religion (celebrated by Jews)
The Hanukkah-miracle happened after three years of fighting, but the battles continued on and off for an additional 25 years.
During each of the 8 days of Hanukkah the same thing happens: Jews light the menorah after sunset; on the first day one candle and each day adding another until on the eighth evening they light 8 candles. An additional candle is lit nearby and is used to kindle the candles of the menorah..
The group that defeated the Syrians was the Maccabees. The defeat took place during the Maccabean revolt between 167 and 160 BCE in Judea.
Mainly Christmas but there is also Kwanza and Hanukkah. We could add Solstice, which would be important to some pagan religious practices.
Since Hanukkah has yet to begin, the current number is 0. Hanukkah will begin at sunset on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
The next time Hanukkah will begin on the evening of December 5 will be in 2053. The last time this has happened was in 1996.
In 2013, it began on November 27.
It will begin at sunset on the 8th of December 2012.
Chanukah began on December 21, 2008
it starts december 8th and ends december 16th
No, there is no evidence that that's ever happened. However, some say that the candle-lighting in Kwanzaa was borrowed from Hanukkah.
The first night of Hanukkah in 2016 will begin in the evening of December 24, 2016. Because December 24 will be a Shabbat, the first Hanukkah candle is lit after twilight. On weekday nights, the nightly candles may be lit earlier.See also:More about Hanukkah
Special prayers (Hallel and Al Hanisim) are added to the services, and a Torah-portion is read each day. The afternoon services begin with a Hanukkah candle lighting.
Hanukkah always begins on the 25th of Kislev, not on any particular Gregorian dates. The 25th of Kislev can and does occur on any day from late November to late December. See also:Hanukkah
חנוכה שמחSee also: More about Hanukkah
It is called a Hanukiah or a Hanukkah menorah.