This year Hanukkah runs from December 11th-December 19th.
More than 2000 years ago, Israel was annexed by Antiochus, the king of Syria, to the Syrian-Greek empire. At first, life wasn't so bad under Antiochus, but things got worse when his son Seleucus IV took over.
Compounding the problem was the growing rift within the Jewish population: the influence of the Hellenists (people who accepted idol-worship and the Syrian way of life) was increasing, leading to two factions.
When Seleucus was killed, his brother Antiochus IV--a tyrant--assumed the throne. In an attempt to unify his kingdom through a common religion and culture, Antiochus suppressed the Jewish Laws. He removed the righteous High Priest, Yochanan, from the Temple in Jerusalem, and replaced him with Yochanan’s brother Joshua, who called himself by the Greek name of Jason. Joshua/Jason, a member of the Hellenist party, used his high office to spread more and more of the Greek customs among the priesthood. He was replaced by Menelaus.
Antiochus was away at war in Egypt when a rumor spread he was dead, prompting a rebellion against Menelaus, who fled. Upon his return, Antiochus set his army on the Jewish people, and enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. Jewish worship was forbidden; the scrolls of the Law were confiscated and burned.
A group of rebels--called the Maccabees--grew. They set out to destroy the pagan temples and eventually defeated the Syrians. Antiochus realized he must send a powerful army to defeat Judah and his brave fighting men. But still, the Maccabees were victorious.
After they won the war, the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to liberate it. They entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrians. Judah and his followers built a new altar. Since the golden Menorah had been stolen by the Syrians, the Maccabees now made one of cheaper metal. They found only enough oil to light it for one day. But by a miracle of G-d, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available. That miracle proved that G-d had again taken His people under His protection.
In honor of this miracle Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days.
Every night the menorah is lit: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Hanukkah, when all eight lights are kindled.
Happy Hanukkah!
Links:
Hanukkah/Chanukah
Hanukkah in a Nutshell
The Story of Chanukah
Hanukkah for Kids--Traditions, Crafts, more
Hanukkah for Kids Links--list of kid-friendly sites
Billy Bear's Hanukkah for Kids -- activities and crafts
All About Hanukkah from Kaboose
Hanukkah clipart at An Enchanted Letter
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