Hanukah – Beautiful Holiday
Hanukkah is an interesting holiday with traditions that go back to the ancient times. It commemorates rededication of the Holy Temple located in Jerusalem in the period of Maccabean Revolt that happened in the II century BC. It is celebrated for eight days and nights from the 25th day of Kislev in accordance with Hebrew calendar that can fall on any time between late November and late December.
One of the most interesting traditions is lighting of candles in a special candelabrum with nine branches, called Hanukiah or Menorah. Every day one candle is lighted, so as on the last day all eight candles are shining. The ninth branch of Menorah is located in the center, and is either higher or lower than the rest of the row. It is conditioned by the fact that it is not used in the holiday itself – it can be used in everyday life, unlike the other branches.
There are also other rituals involved in the holiday celebrating. It is not forbidden to work within the 8 days of the holiday, but usually people go home from work earlier to be there for lights kindling. Although there are no religious reasons to close schools for the holiday, in Israel they are closed since the second day and till the end of Hanukkah. People usually exchange gifts each day of the holiday.
After kindling the lights of Menorah, it is customary to sing Ma’oz Tzur, which is a hymn of the holiday. People usually sing other songs every day of the holiday. It is also a custom to eat foods fried in olive oil, such as potato pancakes and doughnuts.
Hanukkah <unk> Sikukuu Nzuri Hanukkah ni sikukuu ya kuvutia yenye mapokeo ambayo yanarudi nyuma hadi nyakati za kale. Mji huo ulijengwa kwa ajili ya kuadhimisha kuanzishwa upya kwa Hekalu Takatifu lililokuwa Yerusalemu wakati wa mapinduzi ya Makabeo katika karne ya pili KK. Siku hiyo huadhimishwa kwa siku nane kuanzia siku ya 25 ya Kislev kulingana na kalenda ya Kiebrania ambayo inaweza kuanguka wakati wowote kati ya mwishoni mwa Novemba na mwishoni mwa Desemba. "Kama kawaida, watu wa Israeli huwasha mishumaa katika mti wa kandeli wenye matawi tisa unaoitwa ""Hanukiah"" au ""Menorah.""" Kila siku mshumaa mmoja huwasha, ili siku ya mwisho mishumaa yote minane iwe na mwangaza. Tawi la tisa la Menorah liko katikati, na ni la juu au la chini kuliko safu iliyobaki. Ni hali na ukweli kwamba si kutumika katika likizo yenyewe <unk> inaweza kutumika katika maisha ya kila siku, tofauti na matawi mengine. Pia kuna desturi nyingine zinazohusika katika sherehe ya sikukuu hiyo. Hakuna marufuku ya kufanya kazi katika siku nane za sikukuu, lakini kwa kawaida watu huondoka kazini mapema ili wawepo kwa ajili ya kuwasha taa. Ingawa hakuna sababu za kidini za kufungwa kwa shule kwa ajili ya likizo, nchini Israeli zimefungwa tangu siku ya pili na hadi mwisho wa Hanukkah. Kwa kawaida watu hubadilishana zawadi kila siku ya sikukuu hiyo. Baada ya kuwasha taa za Menorah, ni desturi kuimba Maoz Tzur, ambayo ni wimbo wa sikukuu hiyo. Kwa kawaida watu huimba nyimbo nyingine kila siku ya sikukuu hiyo. Pia ni desturi kula vyakula vilivyokaangwa katika mafuta ya zeituni, kama vile pancakes za viazi na donuts.