Ray of Sunshine. art

It’s here, the Festival of Lights! Hanukkah is the 8 night celebration where we celebrate the miracle of the limited oil to light the lamps lasting 8 whole nights. This is also a time when we study the Maccabees’ and their courageous ability to end a battle that lead to the cleansing of the temple.

Each night of Hanukkah one lights the Shamash (the candle that carries all the others) and then uses that to light a candle that corresponds to the night that we are celebrating. Those who follow Yeshua know that this servant candle represents Him. Each night you load the remaining candles needed from right to left. then light them from left to right ending with placing the. Shamash back into its’s place. For a menorah to be considered kosher, the Shamash candle needs to be higher than the other eight and those need to be on the same level. Often as one is lighting the candles a prayer is said. This prayer can be found in the a Siddur or prayer book.

Other traditions include eating oiling foods and treats as well as playing with a dreidel. People often pass out gelt or chocolate gold coins. In some traditions people give out a gift for each night of the festival.

People may think that Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas because it can occur at the same time as Christmas. This is no true as. The two are centered around very different things.

In John 10:22, we see that Yeshua Himself celebrated Hanukkah as He went to celebrate the Fest of Dedication, that is another title for Hanukkah.

What are you doing to celebrate Hanukkah this year?