Happy Hanukkah! The eight-day Jewish celebration begins this Sunday evening and lasts through Monday, Dec. 30. During this time, followers of the faith light one candle each night on their nine-branched candle trees known as Hanukkah menorahs.
The ninth branch is for the shamash, which is the “helper” candle, lit first then used to light the others.
The tradition commemorates an ancient Hebrew story in which oil that should have burned for just one day burned for eight following the desecration of the Holy Temple. Hanukkah, in part, celebrates the restoration of the Jewish Kingdom.
And then, of course, there are fried foods. Keeping with the theme of oil, traditional Hanukkah foods include potato pancakes and jelly-filled donuts.
If the stories behind cultural traditions interest you, check out Sunny Montgomery’s 2016 piece, “How Various Cultures Honor Their Holiest Holidays.”