13 reasons everyone should be sad they don't celebrate Hanukkah

Talia LakritzDec 9, 2020, 00:53 IST

Hanukkah candles.JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Hanukkah is an awesome holiday.
Fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and bimuelos (fried dough balls) are delicious.
Lighting the menorah brings friends, families, and communities together — even virtually.

Many Jewish holidays can be summed up as "We fought, we won, now let's eat," and Hanukkah is no exception.

The story goes that while the Jews were living under the Greek empire around 166 BC, King Antiochus IV outlawed Judaism and defiled the Holy Temple that stood in Jerusalem by sacrificing pigs on the altar. A small Jewish army called the Maccabees led a rebellion against the Greeks and won. When they returned to the Temple to relight the ritual menorah (candelabra), they only found enough oil to last one day, but it miraculously lasted eight.

Jewish people commemorate the Maccabees' victory during Hannukah by lighting a menorah for eight nights and eating fried foods made with oil.

Hanukkah is one of the most recognizable, widely celebrated Jewish holidays around the world - for good reason. Here are 13 reasons why we can't get enough of the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah is eight days long.

Eight candles, plus one that acts as a lighter. Courtesy of Matt Paretsky

Latkes, fried potato pancakes traditionally eaten on Hanukkah, are delicious.

Homemade latkes. Courtesy of Deborah Lakritz

Sufganiyot are jelly doughnuts. They are also a traditional Hanukkah food and they are also delicious.

Jelly doughnuts. Courtesy of Tamar Lakritz

Jews of Sephardic ancestry also make fried doughnut fritters called bimuelos.

Frying up bimuelos. Courtesy of Sarah Aroeste

Chocolate coins, also known as "gelt" (Yiddish for "money"), make great gifts and add a decorative touch to any table.

Hanukkah gelt. Derek Hatfield/Shutterstock

Real "gelt" - giving gifts of money - is also a thing.

Holiday cards for Hanukkah. Orlin Wagner/AP

The dreidel game is strangely addictive.

Spinning dreidels. Courtesy of Liza Wohlberg

Hanukkah songs are great, and more are written every year.

Adam Sandler sings his famous Hanukkah song on Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live/YouTube

Hearing new Jewish music live at Hanukkah concerts is even better.

Singer Neshama Carlebach performs at a benefit Hanukkah concert for the nonprofit Jewish Queer Youth. Courtesy of Jewish Queer Youth

Hanukkah parties are, as the kids say, lit.

A Hanukkah party hosted by Young Jewish Professionals - Los Angeles. Courtesy of YJP Los Angeles Chanukah Soiree 2018

You've heard of Christmas tree lighting events, but have you heard of Hanukkah menorah lighting events?

Onlookers watch during the lighting of what was billed as the "World's Largest Menorah" in New York in 2012. Mario Tama/Getty Images

In individual homes, lit menorahs are often placed in or near windows so that they're visible to the outside.

Lighting Hanukkah candles. Courtesy Tova Kamioner

Lighting the menorah is a beautiful way to gather loved ones and communities together.

Lighting Hanukkah candles. Courtesy of Galia Godel

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