Is it Hanukkah or Chanukah? What to know about the festival of lights

Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

November 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM·3 min read

The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah is coming soon.

The holiday is coming at a time as the world continues to watch the war between Israel and Hamas and marches and protests erupt around the world — including during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade — on both sides of the conflict.

Here's what the holiday is all about.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is an eight-day festival of lights, celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, according to Chabad.org.

It commemorates a miracle that took place in 165 B.C. when a one-day supply of oil used to light the menorah and rededicate the Second Temple of Jerusalem actually lasted eight days, when new oil could be prepared under purification rituals.

What's the definition of Hanukkah?

Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew.

When does Hanukkah 2023 start?

Hanukkah runs Dec. 7 to Dec. 15, 2023.

How is Hanukkah observed?

The candles on the giant menorah are lit to celebrate the second night of Hanukkah during a event put on by the Chabad UF Jewish Student Center at the Plaza of the Americas on the University of Florida campus.

Hanukkah begins with the lighting of the first candle on the menorah. One candle is lit each night, until all candles are lit on the eighth night.

A menorah is lit in every household and placed in a doorway or window. The menorah is also lit in synagogues and other public places, according to Chabad.

Special blessings and prayers are said and traditional songs are sung.

Wait, doesn't the menorah have nine candles?

Yes. The ninth candle is known as the shamash, the helper. It's used to light the other candles, according to History.com.

How long does Hanukkah last?

Observances last for eight days.

Adam Sandler wrote a Hanukkah song

On 2013, comedian Adam Sandler on Saturday Night light, said that when he was growing up as a Jewish child, he said he felt a little left out because there were so many Christmas songs but "all us Jewish kids had was the song 'Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.'"

So he decided to write a Hanukkah song.

His performance is on YouTube and continues to gather comments such as "The holidays just aren't complete without hearing this song" and "I don't know why 'Harrison Ford's a quarter Jewish, not too shabby' destroys me every time but it DOES!"

How do you wish someone 'Happy Hanukkah' in Hebrew?

Wish someone a happy Hanukkah in Hebrew by saying "chag sameach," which is pronounced khag sah–meh-ahkh. This means happy holiday.

Another Hanukkah greeting is "chag urim sameach," pronounced khag oo-reem sah–meh-ahkh, which translates to happy festival of lights.

Are special foods served during Hanukkah?

Co-owner Ricki Ben Simon, center, powders, sufganiyah, an Israeli donut, for Ally Bottini, right, during "Totally Lit! A Hanukkah Celebration!" at Gili's Kitchen catering and baking Kosher restaurant Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 in Jacksonville. The evening marked the third night of Hannukah for Jewish people worldwide. The event featured live music, food, crafts, dreidel games, mingling and menorah lighting. Food was available by the restaurant in conjunction with the Jacksonville Jewish Center and James Weldon Johnson Park. Due to potentially inclimate weather, it was moved from Weldon Park to the restaurant. Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, Hebrew for "dedication," commemorates when Jewish forces defeated the occupation of Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt at the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and its rededication. At the rededication, after three years of fighting, according to the Talmud, there was only enough olive oil to burn on the menorah for one night. However, miraculously, the oil kept burning eight. That event would be enough time to find, make, and consecrate a fresh supply.

Since the Hanukkah miracle involved oil, it's customary to serve foods fried in oil, according to Chabad.

Potato pancakes known as latkes and jam-filled doughnuts called sufganya are common favorites.

Are gifts exchanged on Chanukah?

In recent decades, because the holiday falls near or overlaps Christmas, giving gifts has become more common, especially in the U.S., according to History.com.

Tradition is to give Chanukah gelt, or gifts of money, to children, according to Chabad.

"In addition to rewarding positive behavior and devotion to Torah study, the cash gifts give the children the opportunity to give tzedakah (charity)," Chabad said.