Hanukkah

Celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah in London in 2013.

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration that dates back almost 2,500 years.

Held from the 25th night of the Jewish month of Kislev (sundown on 27 November in 2013), Hanukkah is marked by the lighting of a candle in a menorah (a special candelabra) for each night of the festival.

Hanukkah in Trafalgar Square

Hanukkah is marked in central London each year by the lighting of a giant menorah in Trafalgar Square. An additional light is lit every evening. 

The History of Hanukkah

The origins of Hanukkah, sometimes known as Chanukah or Chanukkah, lie in an uprising against a successor of Alexander the Great around 2,400 years ago.

The revolt was successful, but the Jewish Temple was destroyed in the battle. When the Jews came to rededicate their Temple, they found there was only enough sanctified oil to light it for one day.

Miraculously, the oil stayed alight for eight days. And this is why Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration that's also known as the "festival of lights".