VOA文化艺术2023--How Hanukkah Is Celebrated around the World

How Hanukkah Is Celebrated¹ around the World

Hanukkah (also written as Chanukah) is Judaism's "festival of lights." On eight straight nights, Jews come together with family and friends at the end of daylight to light one additional candle in the menorah.

A menorah is a lamp or candle holder² used in Jewish religious ceremonies. It usually has eight branches, with a ninth place for the candle called shamash from which all the others are lit.

In Hebrew, Hanukkah means "dedication³."

The holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem about 2500 years ago. That was the time a small group of Jewish fighters took it back from occupying foreign forces. The fighters found a very small supply of oil in the religious building, or temple, and used it to keep a menorah lit for eight days. Their practice of lighting⁴ a nightly candle and cooking foods like potato pancakes called latkes, serve to remember the event.

When is Hanukkah 2023?

The dates of the holiday are based on the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually falls sometime in November or December in the Gregorian calendar.

This year, Hanukkah is being celebrated from December 7 through December 15.

Do Hanukkah celebrations differ?

There are different branches of Judaism, like Reform, Conservative⁵ and Orthodox⁶. But they all celebrate the holiday by bringing light into the darkness and remembering that even a small and unlikely-to-succeed effort can make great change.

The Talmud is Judaism's central religious book. Within it, there is a dispute over the order of lighting. But even with that dispute, most start with one candle and increase the lighting by one more candle each night while saying religious blessings⁸.

The candles are added from right to left, but lit from left to right on the menorah, thus always starting with the newest light.

The tradition calls for candles with a real flame. But some also use electric ones in public areas, such as in hospitals, for safety reasons.

How is Hanukkah celebrated?

A menorah is lit in each household and traditionally is placed where it can be seen from the outside, such as a doorway⁹ or near a window. It represents the spreading of God's light to all nations.

The lighting of menorahs in city streets and public areas, like parks or areas of interest, has become more common in recent years in countries around the world.

In addition to menorah lightings, giving money to those in need and social works are also part of the celebration for many. This comes out of the belief that the Jewish people are called by God to help make the world better for all.

Words in This Story

festival – n. a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something

candle – n. wax that has been formed into a stick or another shape and has a string in the middle that can be burned

dedication – v. to officially make (something) a place for honoring or remembering a person or event

blessing⁷ – n. a short prayer

flame – n. the hot, glowing gas that can be seen when a fire is burning

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

3 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

4 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

5 conservative   

adj.保守的，守旧的；n.保守的人，保守派

参考例句：

• He is a conservative member of the church.他是一个守旧教会教友。
• The young man is very conservative.这个年轻人很守旧。

6 orthodox   

adj.正统的，传统的，惯常的

参考例句：

• They are orthodox Jews.他们是正统的犹太教徒。
• His ideas are very orthodox.他的思想非常合乎规范。

7 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

8 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。