Hanukah
For a time, one of the splinter empires that formed after Alexander the Great died ruled Judea. Conflict arose between those on both sides, who were happy for Jews to adopt Greek lifestyles and culture, and those who refused. The emperor correctly realised that until the cultures assimilated, there'd be a core of identity around which resistance might form, and understandably, but unwisely in retrospect, tried to hurry things along.
Many Jews did not like this At All. They did not like this One Little Bit. Many revolted (known as the Maccabees[1]) to rebel and after much bloody fighting, eventually succeeding, and everyone immediately decreed that they should ever after commemorate the occasion by lighting fires and having a party and eating seasonally appropriate food[2].
At this point, God, who had been waiting breathlessly to rescue the situation miraculously, was disappointed. But in order that the celebration could have a place in the religious calendar, He performed a quick miracle involving some kind of oil anyway.
[1] I am not making this up. OK, I'm making most of this up, but not the name "Maccabees" :)
[2] As previously mentioned, this is the origin of essentially all Jewish holidays, although this instance is a bit different. If your girlfriend mentions a Jewish holiday, you can immediately look ever so well informed if you say with a straight face "oh, is that the one where you were very nearly massacred, but survived, and to celebrate, eat?" Although it works better with a Jewish girlfriend.
Traditions
Anything involving oil. Candles. Anything fried (Doughnuts, Latkes, etc).
A Hanukiah (typically a replica of the seven-branched candelabrum Menorah used in the Temple and sometimes called by the same name) displayed in the window with one more candle lighted each day.
A children's game involving wagering chocolate or other treats with the bank based on the rolling of a spinner called a dreidel (sp?). Apparently it is somewhat tedious and depressing to play but very entertaining and educational to argue about :)
Date
All Jewish festivals vary about a month in the Gregorian calendar. Hannukah falls somewhere between late November and late December.
My Hanukkah
I was invited to Rachel's Shul in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, where the Jewish students from the university were holding a Hanukkah party. Attendance was surprisingly good, including all the regular congregation, the students, and a couple of families with young children who can't normally come.
I didn't get to know anyone well, but I've seen her local synagogue which is very pretty, and met lots of people I've heard R talk about, or who I've met once at her housewarming, and who were very nice and welcoming, and now have a much better idea who they are.
Latkes are very nice.
For a time, one of the splinter empires that formed after Alexander the Great died ruled Judea. Conflict arose between those on both sides, who were happy for Jews to adopt Greek lifestyles and culture, and those who refused. The emperor correctly realised that until the cultures assimilated, there'd be a core of identity around which resistance might form, and understandably, but unwisely in retrospect, tried to hurry things along.
Many Jews did not like this At All. They did not like this One Little Bit. Many revolted (known as the Maccabees[1]) to rebel and after much bloody fighting, eventually succeeding, and everyone immediately decreed that they should ever after commemorate the occasion by lighting fires and having a party and eating seasonally appropriate food[2].
At this point, God, who had been waiting breathlessly to rescue the situation miraculously, was disappointed. But in order that the celebration could have a place in the religious calendar, He performed a quick miracle involving some kind of oil anyway.
[1] I am not making this up. OK, I'm making most of this up, but not the name "Maccabees" :)
[2] As previously mentioned, this is the origin of essentially all Jewish holidays, although this instance is a bit different. If your girlfriend mentions a Jewish holiday, you can immediately look ever so well informed if you say with a straight face "oh, is that the one where you were very nearly massacred, but survived, and to celebrate, eat?" Although it works better with a Jewish girlfriend.
Traditions
Anything involving oil. Candles. Anything fried (Doughnuts, Latkes, etc).
A Hanukiah (typically a replica of the seven-branched candelabrum Menorah used in the Temple and sometimes called by the same name) displayed in the window with one more candle lighted each day.
A children's game involving wagering chocolate or other treats with the bank based on the rolling of a spinner called a dreidel (sp?). Apparently it is somewhat tedious and depressing to play but very entertaining and educational to argue about :)
Date
All Jewish festivals vary about a month in the Gregorian calendar. Hannukah falls somewhere between late November and late December.
My Hanukkah
I was invited to Rachel's Shul in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, where the Jewish students from the university were holding a Hanukkah party. Attendance was surprisingly good, including all the regular congregation, the students, and a couple of families with young children who can't normally come.
I didn't get to know anyone well, but I've seen her local synagogue which is very pretty, and met lots of people I've heard R talk about, or who I've met once at her housewarming, and who were very nice and welcoming, and now have a much better idea who they are.
Latkes are very nice.