Sunday 24 December 2017

Hanukkah.


Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights commemorates the consecration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

It falls on the 25th day of Kislev which is near the Winter Solstice - The Birth of the Sun in Pagan religions.

Its observance involves the lighting of the Menorah or nine-branch candlestick.

One candle is lit on each night of the eight day period* from the central candle - the Shamash or helper.

This is also a Light festival and it falls near Christmas which is the day we celebrate the Light of Jesus born into the world.


* The candles of the menorah had miraculously lasted for eight days with only one day's oil.

Photo Credit: drake lelane Flickr via Compfight cc

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