channukah

Thân thiện

Definition

Proper noun: - An eight-day Jewish festival: Channukah (also commonly spelled Hanukkah) is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight days and nights. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE after a small group of Jewish fighters (the Maccabees) defeated a much larger army. A central theme is the miracle of a small amount of oil, enough for one day, lasting for eight days.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Our family lights the menorah each night of Channukah.
  • Channukah is also known as the Festival of Lights.
  • We exchange gifts and eat foods fried in oil during Channukah.

Advanced Usage

• "the spirit of Channukah": Refers to the themes of the holiday, such as religious freedom, miracles, and dedication.
  • The community event captured the true spirit of Channukah with its message of hope.

Variants and Related Words

• Hanukkah: The most common alternate spelling in English.
• Chanukah: Another common alternate spelling.
• Festival of Lights: A descriptive name for the holiday.
• Feast of Dedication: Another name referencing the rededication of the Temple.
• Menorah (n): The nine-branched candelabrum lit during the holiday.
• Dreidel (n): A four-sided spinning top played with during Channukah.

Synonyms

• Festival of Lights: Descriptive synonym.
• Feast of Dedication: Descriptive synonym.

Related Phrases

• "Happy Hanukkah!": A common greeting for the holiday.
• "light the menorah": The central ritual of the holiday.
  • We gather to light the menorah at sundown.

Related Idioms

• "a Hanukkah miracle": Used to describe an unexpected and fortunate event, especially a small one, echoing the holiday's story.
  • Finding a parking spot right in front of the store was a real Hanukkah miracle.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC