Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Syrian-Greek ruler Antiochus IV during the 2nd century BCE. The observance is marked by the lighting of the menorah, a candelabrum that holds nine candles, with one candle lit each night of the festival. The holiday also involves prayers, blessings, and various festivities, including the playing of dreidel, a spinning top game, and the consumption of traditional foods such as sufganiyot and latkes, which are fried in oil to symbolise the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days in the Temple.

The presence of Hanukkah in the United Kingdom dates back to the late 17th century when Jews started settling in the country after being expelled centuries earlier. Today, the Jewish population of the UK is estimated to be roughly 300,000, making it one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. British Jews celebrate the holiday similarly to those in other countries, although some unique traditions have developed, such as specific songs sung at community gatherings and public events.

In the United Kingdom, Hanukkah is observed in homes and synagogues, with the lighting of the menorah taking place each night. In recent years, many cities, such as London, Manchester, and Leeds, have held public menorah lightings and other Hanukkah-related events that bring the larger Jewish community together. Hanukkah usually occurs in December, on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which can sometimes vary on the Gregorian calendar due to the differences between the solar and lunar calendars. British Jews adjust their celebrations accordingly, ensuring they fall in line with the correct Jewish calendar dates.