Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. In 2014, Hanukkah will begin on Tuesday, December 16 and ends on Wednesday, December 24.
The festival is celebrated by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a Shamash (Hebrew: "guard" or "servant") is also lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others, and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest.
Happy Hanukkah
"Hanukkah" means "dedication. During the 8 days of Hanukkah people follow many rituals, light The lamps and wish each other "Happy Hanukkah".
Hanukkah Celebration
Hanukkah is celebrated by a series of rituals that are performed every day throughout the 8-day holiday. Some are family-based and others are communal. There are special additions to the daily prayer service, and a section is added to the blessing after meals. Hanukkah is not a "Sabbath-like" holiday, and there is no obligations to refrain from activities that are forbidden on the Sabbath, as specified in the Shulkhan Arukh. People go to work as usual, but may leave early in order to be home to kindle the lights at nightfall. There is no religious reason for schools to be closed, although, in Israel, schools close for the whole week of Hanukkah. Many families exchange gifts each night, and fried foods are eaten. In North America it is common to exchange presents or give children presents at this time.