Jews around the world celebrate the Festival of Lights each year
to commemorate an ancient victory over oppression. The history
of Hanukkah, coming up next, on Stocking Stuffers. Hanukkah is
an eight-day celebration marking the Jewish victory over Syrian
invaders in the second century B.C. After the battle, the
victorious Jews entered the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to
rededicate it to the service of God. In fact, Hanukkah is the
Hebrew term for dedication. But Jewish teaching describes how
the Judean heroes were unable to find enough oil to light the
lamps of the Temple. The amount of oil they had should only have
provided enough light for one evening. Miraculously, it kept the
Temple lights burning for eight nights, until new oil could be
obtained. This miracle is recounted each year by the lighting of
the eight branches of the Hanukkah menorah.