Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah (alternatively spelled Chanukah) is a Jewish religious holiday celebrated annually for eight days. The holiday commemorates a miraculous event which occurred in the second century B.C. during the Maccabean  Revolt. When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated, the menorah candles burned for eight days even though there was only oil enough for a single day.

Hanukkah’s date changes each year owing to the Hebrew lunar calendar. In 2012, Hanukkah begins after sundown on December 8, and continues until sundown on December 16.

Here are five facts about Hanukkah you may not know:

1. The story of Hanukkah isn’t in the Torah because the Jewish revolt against the King of Syria and the temple miracle happened after the Torah was written. It is mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22, where Hanukkah is referenced as the “feast of dedication.”
2. The nine-branched candelabrum used during the Hanukkah celebration is called a “hanukiah.” The central candle (ninth) is called the “shamash” or “helper.”
3. Foods eaten in celebration of Hanukkah are often fried in oil to commemorate the temple miracle. Most popular are latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot or sufganiyah (jam filled doughnuts), a popular Israeli Hanukkah treat.
4. Because Hanukkah often overlaps Christmas, in North America, Jewish families frequently celebrate both holidays. Some families even go so far as to celebrate the pop culture, interfaith hit, Chrismukkah, a lighthearted mash-up of Christmas and Hanukkah.
5. A game is traditionally played with a four-sided top called a dreidel. Each side of the dreidel has a Hebrew letter which creates an acronym for phrase, “nes gadol hayah sham” – a great miracle happened here.

Greeting Card Universe helps you celebrate Hanukkah with friends, family, coworkers, and business partners with unique traditional and modern designs from our international community of artists.

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