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🕎 Jewish holiday 🕎 Jewish festival
Hanukkah

Hanukkah

42 5.4
An eight-day Jewish festival that remembers a miracle of oil and the Temple being made holy again
  • proper noun
  • /ˈhɑːnʊkə/
translation icon : Janucá
  • Many families enjoy playing dreidel games together during Hanukkah.
  • celebrate Hanukkah

You see how they handle Halloween, how they handle Christmas or Hanukkah, how they handle, you know, summer fun.

Examples

  • Some had Christmas trees in the window; some had Hanukkah menorahs.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • But they were celebrating the first night of Hanukkah quietly—just the three of them.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "We're going to light the first candle of Hanukkah tomorrow night," she said.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • You know that this Hanukkah lamp will be a wonderful addition to one of the museums here in Israel.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • You know how we light a candle for each of the nights of Hanukkah, using one extra candle as a servant?

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The festival of Hanukkah was approaching, with its lovely candlelights not to be used for utilitarian purposes.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • We will gather each evening to light the menorah during Hanukkah.

  • The festival of Hanukkah lasts for eight days and includes special prayers and songs.

Synonyms

Chanukkah
vsHanukkah
1 5.6

An eight-day Jewish festival when people light a menorah each night

is the common name for the same eight-night candle lighting festival
Channukah
vsHanukkah
5.7

An eight-day Jewish festival when families light candles to remember the Temple in Jerusalem being made holy again

is the usual English form for the identical eight-day celebration
Festival of Lights
vsHanukkah
3.5

An eight-day Jewish holiday celebrating the Temple in Jerusalem being made holy again by lighting a menorah

is the traditional name focusing on the historical rededication event
Feast of Lights
vsHanukkah
4.8

An eight-day Jewish holiday called Hanukkah when families light candles each night to remember a miracle

is the common modern name for the same light centered holiday
Feast of the Dedication
vsHanukkah
7.8

An eight-day Jewish festival in winter called Hanukkah that celebrates the Temple in Jerusalem being made holy again

is the same festival described by its familiar liturgical name
Feast of Dedication
vsHanukkah
6.9

An eight-day Jewish festival also called Hanukkah that remembers the Temple in Jerusalem being made holy again

is the familiar holiday name used in everyday speech

Surface Forms

Hanukkah main

Etymology

Hanukkah comes from a Hebrew word hanukkah that means 'dedication'. The festival marks the time the Temple was made holy again and the miracle of the oil, which is why families light candles for eight nights.