Hanukkah Celebrations December 2011

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights and lasts for 8 days beginning on 20^th December 2011. Hanukkah is also known as Chanukah.

What is Hanukkah?

Jews celebrate Hanukkah (the Hebrew word for ‘dedication’) to commemorate the Miracle of the Oil. Over 2000 years ago, in 165 BC, the Jews in Judea rebelled against their Syrian ruler when he insisted that all people must worship Greek Gods. After a long period of fighting, the Jews finally defeated their ruler and celebrated by restoring the Temple of Jerusalem.
Part of the celebrations were marked when they lit an oil lamp to keep burning all the time, even though they only had enough oil for it to burn for one night. However, a miracle happened and the oil lamp stayed lit for eight days. It took the Jewish people 8 days to make some more oil. This was declared the Miracle of the Oil, and has been remembered as this since.
Every year Jews remember the 8 days by celebrating for this length of time and by placing eight candles in a Menorah (a special candlestick), lighting one candle for each evening of the celebration. The Hanukkah lights are used to remind passing by the home about the holiday’s miracle, so the Menorah is displayed at a prominent window.
Hanukkah is a time for Jewish people to exchange gifts with loved ones and also giving to the poor and needy. 

You could make a Hanukkah wish star or a Menorah fuse bead pattern by following the links below: