Hanukkah

The Maccabean Revolt is commemorated annually during Hanukkah

The Maccabees were a group of Jews who led a successful uprising against the Seleucid Empire. The revolt began with Alexander the Great's death and the subsequent division of his kingdom, and it resulted in the capture of Jerusalem.

Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil lamp and the Maccabees' military victory

The annual winter holiday celebrates both events, which ultimately resulted in increased religious freedom for the Jewish people.

Hanukkah wasn’t always a major Jewish holiday

In the 1800s, Jewish immigrants to the United States began searching for ways to maintain their cultural identity in an overwhelmingly Christian environment. Because Hanukkah often falls around the same time as Christmas, Jewish congregations began adapting Christmastime traditions like gift giving to their own holiday.

For many Jewish people, Hanukkah represents the resilience of their community

Today, many Jews interpret Hanukkah in the context of several centuries of history, including the Holocaust. Alan Avery-Peck’s essay explores how the holiday's meaning has evolved according to each generation's struggles.

Hanukkah is one of 8 major Jewish holidays

This calendar, maintained by the Reform Judaism organization, not only shows when each holiday is to be celebrated in the current year, but also includes short histories and common rituals.

Lighting the menorah is viewed as the most important Hanukkah ritual

This short video guides viewers through the process, from the supplies required to the order in which the candles are lit. It also covers the prayers that are recited nightly and associated blessings for each individual night.

Latkes, or fried potato pancakes, are eaten on Hanukkah to honor the miracle of the lasting oil

Deb Perelman, author of seminal food blog Smitten Kitchen, walks us through her foolproof recipe for classic potato pancakes. Among her tips: choose russet potatoes for a lighter latke, use a towel to wring the water out for extra crispiness, and add a sprinkle of baking powder for a little more lift.

The history of sufganiyot, or Hanukkah doughnuts

Mediterranean-focused food blogger Tori Avey shares her best recipe for fluffy, sugar-dusted sufganiyot and explains the history of the sweet that combines European and North African traditions.

A millennial's guide to American Hanukkah specials

The 1990s and early 2000s were a boom time for television specials, including dozens of Hanukkah specials. See classics like Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song" on "SNL" or the special "Rugrats" episode for the holiday.

How to make a Hanukkah feast

You might think you know latkes and kugel, but this collection of Hanukkah-appropriate recipes from Food & Wine takes things to a whole new level. Shake things up at your next holiday table with cinnamon-cardamom sufganiyot, rugelach with a tahini glaze, or brisket with caramelized fennel.