First Day of Hanukkah in United Kingdom
The
first day of Hanukkah is the start of the Hanukkah period, also known
as Chanukah or Festival of Lights. Many Jewish communities in the
United Kingdom begin celebrating the miracle of the sanctified oil
during this time of the year. The first day of Hanukkah falls on 25th
day of the Jewish month of Kislev
What
do people do?
Many
Jewish people in the United Kingdom light one candle or oil lamp on
the first day of Hanukkah. They also light one extra candle or oil
lamp in case they need a flame or light for some other purpose. The
candle or oil lamp is placed in a candle stick known as a hanukiah.
This has space for eight candles or oil lamps and an extra one. The
hanukiah may be lit in a private home, synagogue or a public place,
such as Trafalgar Square in London.
Many
Jewish people light two candles or oil lamps and one additional one
on the second day of Hanukkah. This process continues until
the eighth,
or last, day of Hanukkah.
Then they light eight candles or oil lamps and one additional one.
It
is also common practice for people of Jewish faith to recite special
prayers and sing or recite traditional hymns at Hanukkah. Jewish
choirs perform songs and hymns. Families and groups of friends play
Hanukkah games together. Children may receive real or chocolate money
and gifts. Many Jewish people eat foods fried in oil, such as potato
cakes and donuts, and dairy products.
Public life
The
first day of Hanukkah is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.
There may be some congestion near synagogues. Jewish businesses may
be closed or have different opening hours. Jewish children at state
schools can obtain permission to have time off school to celebrate
this holiday.
Background
The
Jewish festival of Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees
over the Syrian Greeks sometime around 165 BCE. The Maccabees were a
group of Jews and gained their victory after a war lasting three
years.
The
Holy Temple in Jerusalem had been used for non-Jewish religious
rituals during the war. Following the end of the war, the Maccabees
re-dedicated the temple and found a single vial of sanctified oil.
This was enough to burn in the menorah, or candle stick, for just one
day. However, the rituals demanded that this burn for eight days.
Miraculously, the flames in the menorah stayed alight for eight days.
This is known as the miracle of the oil and is celebrated at
Hanukkah.
Symbols
Symbols
of Hanukkah include:
- Candle sticks with space for the nine candles or oil lamps that are lit during the eight days of Hanukkah known as hanukiah.
- Square spinning tops known as dreidels. There is a letter on each of the faces. These letters have symbolic meanings and are used in seasonal games.
- Donuts, potato cakes and other foods cooked in oil.
- Chocolate money.
Children
in some families receive small gifts on each of the eight days of
Hanukkah or a single larger gift.
Related holiday
- Last day of Hanukkah ―Thursday, December 5, 2013
Other holidays in November 2013 in United Kingdom
- All Saints' Day ―Friday, November 1, 2013
- All Souls' Day ―Saturday, November 2, 2013
- Diwali/Deepavali ―Sunday, November 3, 2013
- Guy Fawkes Day ―Tuesday, November 5, 2013
- Muharram/Islamic New Year ―Tuesday, November 5, 2013
- Remembrance Sunday ―Sunday, November 10, 2013
- St Andrew's Day ―Saturday, November 30, 2013
Bueno...nada de agobios...solo es una lectura para familiarizarse en otras culturas diferentes a la nuestra y de paso...practicamos un poco, nuestros conocimientos del inglés fuera del ámbito escolar. Ya lo traducimos juntos en clase.
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