You celebrate it every year but how much do you know about the story of the Chanukkah? Take this quiz and test your Hanukkah chops!How Much Do You Actually Know About The Story Of Hanukkah?
Quiz: What Do You Know About The Story Of Hanukkah?
Are you familiar with the story of Hanukkah? This Jewish holiday is celebrated every year in December and is also known as the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
The story of Hanukkah begins in the 2nd century BCE when the Seleucid Empire ruled over Judea. The Seleucid king, Antiochus IV, outlawed Jewish practices and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem by sacrificing pigs on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus. A group of Jewish rebels, led by Judah Maccabee, fought against the Seleucids and eventually regained control of the Temple.
When the Jews reclaimed the Temple, they found only enough oil to light the menorah, a candelabrum with seven branches, for one day. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, which is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights. During this time, Jews light a special nine-branched menorah called a hanukkiah, with one candle being lit each night.
Other Hanukkah traditions include playing dreidel, a spinning top game with Hebrew letters on each side, and eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts).
Take our quiz to test your knowledge of the story of Hanukkah and learn more about this important holiday in Jewish culture.
