As the year draws to a close, many people around the world take part in a festival or religious celebration. What do you and your family celebrate at this time of year? Do you light a Menorah for Hanukkah? Have an Iranian feast to celebrate Yalda? Or decorate your home with Japanese Shimekazari to see in the new year?
Let’s celebrate Hanukkah
In 2020 the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah) took place in the middle of December. Families get together, spin the dreidel (a spinning top) and eat fried food. One of the most important elements of Hanukkah is lighting the menorah. The Hanukkah menorah is a candle holder. It celebrates the miracle of the one-day supply of candle oil lasting for eight days in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This is why there are eight candles on a menorah – plus the shamash, the ninth candle, used to light the other candles, and why the festival lasts for eight days. Traditionally during Hanukkah no one can work while the candles are burning, so it is a great time to be joyful and play!