Hanukkah History And Holiday Highlights For The Des Moines Area

DES MOINES, IA — Hanukkah started at sundown Tuesday and in the metro area members of the Jewish community gathered to light the first candle on a menorah outside Maccabee's Deli, a tradition that has taken place for 17 years. The annual ritual brings members of the faith together for eight days as they light a candle each night.

Hanukkah is in celebration of the Jews' defeat of oppressors and recapturing the holy temple in Jerusalem. It was inside the temple that the people found only enough olive oil to light candles for one night. Miraculously, it lasted eight nights, which is represented by the menorah and where the name "the Festival of Lights" was derived.

Hanukkah is not traditionally a gift-giving holiday — other than coins for children — but because it falls close to Christmas, it has become more so in the United States. And it does have another connection, albeit odd, to Christmas: Many of the classic Christmas songs that represent the Christian holiday were penned by Jewish composers.

Caspe Terrace in Waukee will host a showing of a movie about that on Sunday. Following a noon lunch, the movie "I'm Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas" will begin at 1:30 p.m. It's set entirely in a Chinese restaurant — a nod to one of the few types of eateries open on Christmas Day for years — and details in an offbeat and fun way the immigrant and first-generation Jewish songwriters responsible for so many "holiday chestnuts."

And, really, there are many: White Christmas, Silver Bells, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Winter Wonderland and, yes, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire are among the holiday standards contributed by Jewish songwriters.

The documentary includes rarely-seen archival footage, musical performances, and interviews with contemporary writers and performers as well as connoisseurs of American popular music. To attend, RSVP by email to [email protected].

While Jews around the world will light candles and celebrate Hanukkah through Dec. 20, many non-Jews will wonder what it's all about — and whether they're missing out on something.

For everything you need to know about Hanukkah, Patch has the answer.

What is Hanukkah?

The holiday celebrates the Jews defeat of their Syrian-Greek oppressors who tried forcing them to abandon their religion and adopt Greek culture. The story has it that, led by Judah Maccabee, they recaptured the holy temple in Jerusalem, where the small supply of oil was found and by a miracle lasted eight nights. That ultimately led to Hamukkah being referred to as "The Festival of Lights."

How important is Hanukkah?

Jews consider it a minor holiday compared to celebrations such as Rosh Hashanah, which marks the new year, and Passover, which commemorates the escape from Egypt.

Hanukkah or Chanukkah?

Both are acceptable. The difference comes from the fact that the word is actually Hebrew and it can be written in English different ways depending on the translator.

How is Hanukkah celebrated?

Every evening at sundown, candles on a menorah — a candleholder with nine branches — are lit. The nine branches are for eight candles representing the eight days the oil lasted and one for a candle used to light the others. There also is a tradition of giving money – gelt – to children so that they can give to charity.

Are there special foods?

As the holiday celebrates a miracle related to oil, Jews tend to have fried foods, particularly jelly-filled doughnuts known as sufganiyot and potato pancakes known as latkes. There are also chocolate coins wrapped in foil that represent Hanukkah gelt.

Gambling?

Kind of. There is a game associated with Hanukkah that is played with a dreidel, a four-sided top with a different Jewish letter that is an acronym for "great miracle happened there." Every player gets pennies, chocolate coins, or something similar. With each spin, depending on what letter the top lands on, the player can get nothing from the pot, half the pot, the whole pot, or has to put a coin in the pot.

Christmas has carols; what about Hanukkah?

There is actually a grand tradition of Hanukkah music including I Have a Little Dreidel and Hanukkah oh Hanukkah. There are some modern songs such as Adam Sandler's The Hanukkah Song and Light One Candle by Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Why are the dates different every year?

Hanukkah begins on the same day every year on the Hebrew calendar, which is a lunar calendar, as opposed to the solar, 365-day calendar in use here.

Can you celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas together?

Really, you can do whatever you want. Some say no because Hanukkah is, in large part about celebrating people who would have rather died than give up their religion.

Image via kevindvt/Pixabay; Patch staffer Colin Miner contributed to this story.