Latin American Jews begin preparations for Hanukkah

Although millions of Latinos living in the United States follow the beliefs of Christianity and celebrate Christmas in December, there is also another important celebration that goes on during the same month. The United States sees Hanukkah as an important holiday and on the streets and in shops and malls, there are symbols and decorations for both Hanukkah and Christmas.

The Jewish News Agency explains that in the United States there is a strong Jewish community, and for the Latin American Jews who live in the U.S., the sentiment is felt quite differently from what one can experience in other countries. The big difference, most claim, is that this is a country that fosters diversity and tolerance towards all religions– even in the White House, both a Christmas tree and a menorah are present.

What is Hanukkah and when is it celebrated?

Hanukkah, which in Hebrew means “rededication,” began on Sunday, December the 18th, and ends on Monday, December the 26th, and is one of the most important celebrations in Judaism all over the world. Spanning eight days, it’s celebrated every year from the 25th of Kislev, the third month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, which in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to the end of November or the beginning of December.

For this reason, there are years when Hanukkah coincides with the American holiday of Thanksgiving and sometimes, as will happen this year, with the Christian holiday of Christmas. What is remembered and celebrated on Hanukkah is a miracle that, according to Jewish tradition, occurred in Jerusalem some 2,200 years ago.

By then, the inhabitants of Judea were under the occupation of the Seleucid Empire, which emerged from the conquests of Alexander the Great. But in 165 BC (to situate ourselves historically), the successful rebellion of the Maccabees restored their independence and allowed the purification of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the occupiers.

During the rededication process, the lamp that illuminated the temple was kept burning for eight days, when in reality it only had oil for one. So, to celebrate this, during Hanukkah the candles in a special nine-branched candelabra are lit progressively, with a new one being lit each night until eight are completed (the ninth arm is for the pilot candle).

Hanukkah gifts, prayers and food

The so-called Chanukah menorah, or chanukah, is not the only typical object of the celebration; gift exchanging is also customary.

Some Latino families that celebrate Hanukkah in the United States are used to giving a small gift to their children each night, mainly because they are the main protagonists of the celebration. Others give kids chocolate coins or money, called Hanukkah gelt.

Playing games is also part of the celebration, with the dreidel, a spinning top inscribed with four letters of the Hebrew alphabet that form the acronym for “a great miracle happened there” being the most common. The miraculous duration of the oil, for its part, is also remembered in the large number of fried foods that are consumed during the celebration. Among these are a kind of fried potato and onion pancake called latkes, fritters and doughnuts known as sufganiyot.

And, as in many similar celebrations in other cultures, there is no shortage of prayers and songs. In fact, due to its traditions and when it falls on the calendar, Hanukkah is often compared to the Christian Christmas, while in India some describe it as “the Jewish Diwali,” in reference to the Hindu festival of lights.

And all these celebrations have in common their proximity to the boreal winter solstice, the moment when the nights finally start to get shorter.

The commercial celebration

It is also important to note that in many cities in the United States, both Hanukkah and Christmas are more commercial holidays than religious ones. Although one does not necessarily cancel the other out, it is true that a great deal of importance is given to gifts and decoration.

Hanukkah is a big deal; people buy lots of gifts, send out cards, host parties and every night a different event is held, while the special chanukiah with its nine branches is lit and decorations are placed. Even in the United States, there are Hanukkah candlesticks and Christmas trees alike in banks, shops, malls and public roads, since it is one of the largest holidays in proportion.