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Hanukkah - Festival of Lights |
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Hanukkah
is the Jewish festival of lights
and celebration of peace, happiness
and prosperity. Hanukkah or Chanukah means (in
Hebrew) dedication.. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day
of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar and
corresponding, approximately, to December in the Gregorian
calendar and celebrated on eight successive days, through
the 2nd of Tevet. In addition to the Festival of Lights,
Hanukkah is also known as the Feast
of Dedication, and Feast
of the Maccabees. |
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The most important Hanukkah
ritual is the candle lighting in a special candleholder
called a `menorah` or a `hanukkiah`. There are
9 holders on a hanukkiah,one at the middle and
four numbers on either side . The middle candle,
called the` shamash`, and is used to light each
of the other candles every night. Therefore, on
the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are lit
and on the last night, there are nine lit candles. |
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Festival
of Lights is celebrating in India in a different
context is known as Deepavali. |
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Hanukkah-history
Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the
third month of the Jewish calendar and corresponding,
approximately, to December in the Gregorian
calendar and celebrated on eight successive
days, through the 2nd of Tevet.The date of festival.
Hannukah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees
over the Hellenistic Syrians during 168 BCE
(Before the Common Era) and the rededication
of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Temple
had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes,
King of Syria and overlord of Palestine. After
recapture of Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabeus
he had the Temple purged and a new altar put
up in place of the desecrated one. The Temple
was then rededicated to God.
According to legend, the Talmud tradition, only
one measure of sacramental oil was found, enough
for one day, but miraculously, the oil burned
for eight days, thus the eight days of Hanukkah. |
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Hanukkah-
AMAZING FEATS
Another common Hanukkah practice is giving
gifts or money to children. There are
lots of parties and special events among the
Jews around the world. They sing Hanukkah songs,
eat lots of special dishes and have lots of
entertainments and incredible feats in honor
of Hanukkah. Jewish Law permits, menorahs can
be a maximum height of 30 feet but several organizations
claim to have lit "The World's Largest
Menorah" with out official approval. The
ultimate goal of these record attempts is not
for a competition, but to encourage people to
light their own menorahs -a visible symbol of
the message of Hanukkah.
It is reported that a Menorah was built in 1997
near the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. It
was of measuring more than 60-feet tall, weighed
17 metric tons, and took up an area of 600-square
meters.
Few interesting reports are copied bellow:-
The Lubavitch Youth Organization claimed to
have lit the world's largest Hanukkah menorah
in New York City's Central Park in 1998. A drawing
of the original menorah in the Holy Temple of
Jerusalem inspired the 32-foot high gold-colored
steel structure, designed by artist Yaakov Agam.
Specially designed glass chimneys protect the
lights from the Central Park winds. Due to the
height of the menorah, it was lit nightly with
the help of a Con Edison "cherry picker"
crane. On the first night of Hannukah in 1997,
a 12-foot high pyramid made of 6,400 fried jelly
doughnuts was erected near the Israeli town
of Afula. The 19th annual lighting of the National
Hanukkah Menorah took place on December 13,
1998. The American Friends of Lubavitch claim
that their 30-foot aluminum menorah is the largest
in the world. |
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Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African cultural festival also
known as Swahili kwanza, which means "beginnings".
It is introduced into the United States in 1977
and this festival is celebrated with feasts
and songs in the home for seven
days and nights from December 26 to January
1.
The African colours, are prominently displayed.
The green colour represent for the future and
black for the struggle. Parents role is vital
in this celebration, which stresses family unity
and cultural self-determination, responsibility,
purpose, creativity, and faith. |
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