Last day of Chanukah in United Kingdom

Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah or Festival of Lights, is a time for many Jewish communities in the United Kingdom to celebrate the miracle of the sanctified oil. The last day of Chanukah falls on the second or third day of the Jewish month of Tevet.

Candles are lit during Chanukah. ©iStockphoto.com/Tova Teitelbaum

What do people do?

Many Jewish people throughout the world, including in the United Kingdom, light eight candles or oil lamps to represent the eight days that the oil lamps burned from one bottle of sanctified oil during the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. They also light one additional candle or oil lamp in case they need a light for some other purpose. The candle sticks may be in private homes, synagogues or in public places, such as Trafalgar Square in London.

Jewish people also recite special prayers and sing or recite traditional hymns. Jewish choirs may perform Jewish and Israeli songs and hymns. Families and groups of friends play Chanukah games together. Children may receive gifts of real or chocolate money and toys.

Public life

The last day of Chanukah is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. There may be some congestion near synagogues. Jewish businesses may be closed or have different opening hours. Jewish children at state schools can obtain permission to have time off school to celebrate this holiday.

Background

The Jewish festival of Chanukah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks sometime around 165 BCE. The Maccabees were a group of Jews and gained their victory after a war lasting three years.

The Holy Temple in Jerusalem had been used for non-Jewish religious rituals during the war. Following the end of the war, the Maccabees re-dedicated the temple and found a single vial of sanctified oil. This was enough to burn in the menorah, or candle stick, for just one day. However, the rituals demanded that this burn for eight days. Miraculously, the flames in the menorah stayed alight for eight days. This is known as the miracle of the oil and is celebrated at Chanukah. The first day of Chanukah marks the start of the Chanukah period.

Symbols

Symbols of the last day of Chanukah include:

• Candle sticks, or hanukiah, with nine lit candles or small oil lamps.
• Square spinning tops known as dreidels. There is a letter on each of the faces. These letters have symbolic meanings and are used in seasonal and religious games.
• Foods cooked in oil, including donuts and potato cakes called latke.
• Chocolate money.

In addition, children in some families receive presents or money from parents and other family members.

About Last day of Chanukah in other countries

Last day of Chanukah Observances

Related holiday

• First Day of Chanukah ―Sunday, December 9, 2012

Other holidays in December 2012 in United Kingdom

• First Sunday of Advent ―Sunday, December 2, 2012
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception ―Saturday, December 8, 2012
• First Day of Chanukah ―Sunday, December 9, 2012
• December Solstice ―Friday, December 21, 2012
• Christmas Eve ―Monday, December 24, 2012
• Christmas Day ―Tuesday, December 25, 2012
• Boxing Day ―Wednesday, December 26, 2012
• New Year's Eve ―Monday, December 31, 2012