First Night of Hannukah 2010: Sundown December 1

Hanukkah 2010 Begins at Sundown on December 1

Happy Hanukkah (or Chanukah, if you're so inclined)! Hanukkah, the festival of lights, starts at sundown on December 1, and ends at sundown on December 9. Light the first candle, fry up some latkes, bust out the Dreidel, pour some wine, and enjoy.

• Adam Sandler Hanukkah Song (Lyrics)
• Ten Hanukkah Songs For The 2009 Festival of Lights
• How To Light a Menorah at Hanukkah, Steps to Lighting a Menorah
• Chanukah, Materialism and Santa's Birthday
• Latkes Recipe (Though It's Not Rocket Science)
  

Photos

Menorah (Macro)

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uploaded by Jordan Yerman

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Hanukkah, a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish canon (the High Holy Days, which fall around September on the Christian calendar are more serious), has gathered steam in North America due to its proximity (and occasional overlap) with Christmas. Each night, an additional candle is added to the Menorah, until, along with the shamash,  all eight arms of the Menorah are lit.

The tradition of giving eight presents? Not actually an ancient tradition, but a great way to keep your kids from whinging about how their neighbors get stuff under a plastic tree in the winter and they don't.

Hanukkah (or Chanukah, if you're still so inclined) commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the armies of Syrian King Antiochus, which was defeated by Judaic armies led by Judah Maccabee (his name meant "The Hammer", which gives you an idea of how open he was to compromise), but the modern version is about family, and the celebration of being together.

Videos

Eight crazy nights

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sourced by Jordan Yerman