These are four Jewish holidays.

Purim takes place on the 14th of Adar which normally falls some time in March or April. This holiday is when we read the book of Esther. It is a joyous holiday where everyone dresses up in costume, people give gifts of cookies, sweets, and fruit, carnivals are held, and adults are supposed to get tipsy.

Pesach takes place on the 15th to 22nd of Nisan, again some time in March or April. This holiday is when we read the story of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. The first night in Israel and the first 2 nights outside of Israel are observed with a religious service called a 'seder' that is held in the home. No leavened products are eaten during the whole of this holiday.

Sukkot takes place on the 15th to 20th of Tishrei, some time in September or October. This holiday is in remembrance of HaShem's protection during our 40 years in the desert. It's celebrated by constructing a 4 walled temporary shelter outdoors called a 'sukkah', at least 2 of the walls must be temporary and we should be able to see the sky through the roof. At a minimum, all meals should be eaten in the sukkah and where climate permits, people will also sleep in it.

Hanukkah takes place on the 25th of Kislev to the 3rd of Tevet, either the end of November or some time in December. Hanukkah is when we remember our victory over invaders who attempted our forced assimilation and is one of the least of the various holidays. It's celebrated by lighting candles each night of the holiday, starting with one plus a helper and adding an additional candle each night. Traditionally, foods cooked in oil and dairy foods are eating. The best known foods eaten during this holiday are potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam buster doughnuts).

Hanukkah (חנוכה) is the Hebrew word for "dedication."
It is the eight-day long festival of lights that is celebrated in Judaism. It is one of the most joyous holidays. However, it is a relatively minor holiday on the Jewish calendar.
Hanukkah commemorates the day the holy Temple was rededicated/recaptured by the Maccabees and the defeat of Antiochus.
The celebration dates back to 165 BCE.
Hanukkah commemorates the miraculous military victory of the small, ill-equipped Jewish army; known as the Maccabees, over the ruling Greek Syrians. The Syrians had banned the Jewish religion and desecrated the temple. The war was fought because King Antiochus marched into Judea with his soldiers and wanted all of the Jewish people to either be killed, or to become Hellenists (a religion that includes mostly Greek customs, with a few Jewish customs). Antiochus began making terrible laws against the Jewish people which prevented them from following most of the Torah. He and his army destroyed the Jewish temple almost completely, and put pigs (which Jewish people do not eat) and idols all around it, all the while stealing their holy vessels.

The miracle that occurred, was that the small cruse of consecrated oil, that was supposed to burn for just one day and was all that they had, burned for eight days in the temple's Menorah.

• Answer:

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. 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."

• Festivals and holy days
  

• Minor holidays and occasions (in which work is not forbidden):
  

The reason that Hanukkah lasts for 8 days is related to the holiday of Sukkot. Hanukkah lasts 8 days because during the Syrian occupation, the holiday of Sukkot could not be celebrated. As a result, once the Temple was reclaimed from the invaders and rededicated, there was a postponed observance of that holiday which is 8 days

• Answer:

The menorah in the Temple was meant to be lit every evening. However, once the Temple was reclaimed from the Syrian-Greek invaders and rededicated, there was only enough oil to last for one day, and it would take eight days to make more. The oil that they had ended up burning for eight days in the Temple's menorah, the perfect amount of time until the new oil could be made and brought.

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 Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates only the miracle of the oil.

Special foods include potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot). Also, any foods fried in oil are traditional.

There isn't anything that could be called a "Hanukkah Dinner" though.
Pork, shellfish, and combinations of meat products and dairy products are not eaten by observant Jews during Channukah and all year around. There are no additional food prohibitions during Channukah. See also the attached Related Link.

From a Wiki contributor:The Jews. But no single person is identified as the inventor.

Jewish Answer:

Hanukkah was instituted by a special decree of the Jewish Sages (Talmud, Shabbat 21b). After several victories over the Greeks, 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. Hanukkah was founded in commemoration of this.

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The eight candles represent the eight days in which the small amount of olive oil continued miraculously to burn in the Temple at its re-dedication 2200 years ago.

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 Jewish 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.

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."

See also:

Jewish history timeline

More about the Hellenized Jews

There are three blessings recited during the lighting of the Chanukah Menorah, also known as a hanukiyah. The first two are as follows (in transliterated Hebrew and English):

• Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner Shel Hanukkah.

Praised are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has made us holy by mitzvot and instructed us to light the Hanukkah candles.

• Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she'asah nisim lavotaynu bayamim hahaym bazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors at this season in ancient days.

The third blessing is recited only on the first night:

• Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she-he-cheyanu vekimanu vehigiyanu lazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and helped us to reach this day.

There are many festivals and celebrations on or near the December 25th date. Some of the closest include (in no particular order):

1. Yule
2. Solstice
3. the 8 Days of Hanukkah
4. the 29-30 days of Ramadan (in some years)
5. Boxing Day
6. the 7 days of Kwanzaa
7. New Years' Eve
8. New Years' Day
9. Human-light
10. World Aids Day
11. Festivus (actually created in 1966 but made popular in a Seinfeld episode)
12. Bodhi Day
13. Saint Stephen's Day
14. Saint John the Evangelist's Day
15. Saint Basil's Day
16. Epiphany

It celebrates the Jews' victory over the Greeks in 164 BC.

There is no such thing as a "Hanukkah Spirit". Hanukkah has no equivalent to Santa Claus.

Children receive Hanukkah gifts from their parents, friends, and family.

Answer:

Hanukkah was founded before Christianity. Note that the only traditional gift on Hanukkah is the gelt (coins) which are given to children.

Dreidels have 4 letters on them and they make up an acronym. There are two version of the acronym and they are: נס גדול היה שם or נס גדול היה פה.

In Israel: Nes, Gadol, Haya, Po - A great miracle happened here.

Outside of Israel: Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham - A great miracle happened there.

The four letters printed on a dreidel are:

Hebrew letter . . . . Sound

noohn (נ) . . . . . . . . N

gimel (ג) . . .. . . . . . G

heh (ה) . . . . . . . . . . H

shin (ש) . . . . . . . . . . SH

In Israel, the letter shin (ש) on the dreidel is replace with the letter Peh (פ)

The Dreidel Game:

Each of the letters also has a value in the game:

נ = none

ג = get all

ה = half

ש = put one in (in Israel פ means put one in)