Hanukkah

Last Day of Hanukkah History

Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. It is also known as the Festival of Lights, symbolising the oil miracle, where a day's worth of oil lasted for eight days. It is typically marked by festive meals, family gatherings, gift-giving, and, most notably, the kindling of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. One additional light is lit on each night of the festival. The observance of Hanukkah has its climax on the last day, also known as Hanukkah Ends.

The historical roots of Hanukkah go back to the second century BCE in Jerusalem. However, the observance of Hanukkah Ends gained significance in Germany in the 19th century within the domestic sphere of German-Jewish families. This period was when more emphasis was placed on family celebrations, and rituals became deeply ingrained in German-Jewish culture. Ever since then, Hanukkah Ends has continued to be a vital part of the Jewish calendar in Germany, symbolizing community, resilience, and continuity.

In Germany, Hanukkah Ends is observed with traditional customs such as lighting the final candle on the menorah, playing the dreidel game, and indulging in festive meals. Such meals often feature foods fried in oil, like doughnuts and potato pancakes, to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The Hebrew calendar determines the date of Hanukkah Ends, but it generally takes place in December. Specifically, it falls on the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet, which in the Gregorian calendar is usually between the 27th of December and the 7th of January, depending on the year.

Facts about Hanukkah

• Hanukkah commemorates the cleansing and re-dedicating of the Temple in Jerusalem more than 2000 years ago. Syrian king Antiochus had ordered the Jews to abandon the Torah and worship Greek gods. In retaliation, Judas Maccabeus retook the temple in Jerusalem.
• On the final night of Hanukkah, the last candle of the menorah is lit. The lighting of the menorah serves as a reminder to those passing by of the miracle that occurred so long ago when the remaining bit of pure oil burned for eight nights.
• The "miracle of the oil lamp" refers to a legend where a one-day supply of oil miraculously burned for eight days.
• Throughout the Holocaust, Jewish prisoners in concentration camps managed to celebrate Hanukkah in various ways. In some instances, prisoners created makeshift menorahs out of scrap materials such as shoe polish and strings from uniforms. Others held secret gatherings and recounted the Hanukkah story, even in the most difficult circumstances.
• Jews have lived in the region that is now Germany since Roman times, with Jewish communities established in cities such as Worms, Speyer, and Mainz by the 10th century.

In the News and Trending in Germany for Hanukkah

Top things to do in Germany for Last Day of Hanukkah

• Enjoy traditional fried foods like latkes, sufganiyot, or apple fritters.
• Explore Jewish history and culture at the Jewish Museum Berlin or other Jewish museums across Germany.
• Try traditional Hanukkah foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) at local Jewish bakeries or cafes.