No matter how you spell it, Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, a festival dedicated to the re-dedication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC. It was also one of the later Jewish festivals that was established and did not appear in the Torah because these events occurred after the Torah was written.
Hanukkah Sameach means Happy Hanukkah in Hebrew, but there are many other ways to exchange holiday greetings. There are not only several ways to wish your loved ones a pleasant holiday, but there are also traditional and modern ways of contacting Hanukkah.
Hanukkah Sameach greetings may be given in Hebrew, Yiddish, or English, and they may reflect holidays or seasons. Although Hanukkah is particularly popular as it approaches Christmas every year, it is considered a small holiday on the Jewish calendar.
How Hanukkah is celebrated?
Hanukkah Sameach is celebrated for eight days to commemorate the oil miracle that lasted eight days in the temple. Unlike other Jewish holidays that prohibit work, there are no restrictions on work during Hanukkah.
The Jews lit candles every day on Hanukkah (nine candelabra), starting with one candle and adding one every day. The candle used to light other candles is called shamash. The blessings on the candles were chanted and festival songs were sung to commemorate the Makamoto Uprising.
Children (and adults!) Play a game called dreidel (dreidel is a spinning top that displays four Hebrew letters: nun, gimel, hay, and shin, representing the phrase “a great miracle happened there”.
In Israel, a letter. Change to: nuns, Jimmer, hey, Pay, representing the phrase “A great miracle happened here.”) It is customary to use Hanukkah Sameach gel (chocolate coins) as a small gift.
Although many Jews now send more exquisite gifts during Hanukkah, this practice has developed because the holiday is near Christmas, rather than traditional Jewish customs.
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What is the History of Hanukkah?
In 175 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes gained Jewish control. He declared the Jewish religion illegal and blasphemed the temple in 167 BC, placed an altar on the altar of Zeus, and ordered the sacrifice of pigs.
The Jewish pastor Mattityahu and his five sons led the rebellion, and five of them, Judah Maccabee, took over the rebellion after his father died. This family is called the Maccabe or Hasmoni.
In 165 BC, the Jews successfully defeated their oppressors and rebuilt their temple. According to Talmud, after cleaning the temple, olive oil is needed to refuel the candlestick (candlestick).
Although there was only enough oil to burn for one day, the oil lasted for eight days.
What is the greeting for Hanukkah in Hebrew?
Hanukkah Sameach
חַג חֲנוּכָּה שַׂמֵחַ or Hanukkah Sameach means “Happy Hanukkah” in Hebrew. This is always the right greeting for the holiday.
Chag Sameach
חַג שָׂמֵחַ is a Hebrew expression. Often transliterated as Chag sameach, is pronounced χaɡ saˈme.aχ with a guttural “ch” sound at the beginning. Chag sameach means “Happy Holidays” because chag is a holiday. Therefore, the word Hanukkah can be added to express a specific greeting: “Chaug Hanukkah sameach!”
Chag Urim Sameach
צ’ג אורים סמח, or chag urim sameach, means “Happy Festival of Lights”. This is a lovely greeting for the holiday and expresses the spirit of the season. Because this is a less common greeting, it may be reserved for the actual celebration of Hanukkah itself, first of all by blessing and lighting candles in candlesticks.
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What is the greeting for Hanukkah Sameach in Yiddish?
Although few Americans communicate with each other in Hebrew, many still use Yiddish regularly. Yiddish is a language that originated from the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe; it includes elements of German and Hebrew.
Although it is always correct to express holiday greetings in Hebrew, it is more informal and friendly to express the holiday greetings in Yiddish: A. Frilichen Chanukah!
The more general “Happy Holiday” option is gut yuntuv; also, gut Yom Tov means “greeting” or “good day”. If you happen to exchange greetings on the Sabbath (Saturday), you can also say Gut Shabbos.
Where to find Hanukkah Sameach Greeting Cards and Messages?
Although Hanukkah cards and messages are not part of the ancient Hanukkah tradition, they have become a popular part of American culture.
Hanukkah greeting cards can be easily found in any stationery store, and many people make their own Hanukkah Sameach greeting cards.
Although such greetings are welcome, it is important to remember that Hanukkah is a very different holiday than Christmas.
Hanukkah Sameach does involve the lighting of candles and does fall around the winter solstice, but this is neither an important holiday nor a celebration of the coming of the New Year (Jewish New Year occurs in early autumn).
Therefore, Hanukkah greeting cards can celebrate:
- Happy family
- Celebrate the miracle
- Candles and blessings
- Games, songs and food
What kinds of foods are eaten on Hanukkah Sameach?
On Hanukkah, Jews eat food fried in oil, which is another (delicious) place to remind people of the miracle of the oil.
The classic dishes of Hanukkah are crispy potato pancakes called latkes in Yiddish and levivot in Hebrew, usually paired with applesauce and sour cream.
Another delicacy of Hanukkah Sameach is sufganiyot (jelly stuffed doughnuts), usually sprinkled with powdered sugar. Sephardic Hanukkah doughnuts are called Bunuelos (or bimuelos) and are traditionally dipped in honey.
When is Hanukkah Celebrated?
In the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah was celebrated on the 25th of Kislev and lasted eight days. The name “Hanukkah” comes from the Hebrew word “they rest on the 25th” (that is, the rebellion ends on this day).
| Jewish Year 5781 | Sunset December 10, 2020 – Nightfall December 18, 2020 |
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| Jewish Year 5791 | Sunset December 20, 2030 – Nightfall December 28, 2030 |
Conclusion
On Hanukkah, Jews celebrate their religious freedom and what is considered to be a great miracle that occurred. This festival is a symbol of lights in Judaism. Amongst many festivals, this festival holds a lot of importance for Jews.
Although unlike any other holidays in Judaism where work is forbidden, one can do work in Hanukkah and there is no bondage with regards to that. One needs to light a candle, chant the festive songs and greet each other Hanukkah Sameach
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Do you say Happy Hanukkah every day?
At the time of Hanukkah, which is different every year. It’s appropriate to use the greeting during the entire eight-day course of the holiday. … It’s appropriate to use the greeting during the entire eight-day course of the holiday. I am not offended at Merry Christmas wishes in December.
What is Hanukkah and how is it celebrated?
Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and it remembers the rededication of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, in Israel. This happened in the 160s BCE/BC (before Jesus was born). During Hanukkah, on each of the eight nights, a candle is lit in a special menorah (candelabra) called a ‘hanukkiyah’.
When should you wish someone Happy Hanukkah?
During Chanukah is usually the best time to wish someone a Happy Hanukah (for the record, there are a lot of ways to spell Hanukah). Anytime leading up to Chanukah also works well. Chanukah usually falls sometime between Thanksgiving Day in the US and New Year’s Day.
What is a simple explanation of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means rededication. The hanukiah (or Hanukkah menorah) is a candle holder, an important Hanukkah symbol.
What do Jews do for Hanukkah?
During Hanukkah Jews follow simple religious rituals in addition to their regular daily prayers from the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book. They recite three blessings during the eight-day festival. On the first night, they recite three and on subsequent nights they say the first two.