Editing Hanukkah: Celebrate the Festival of Lights (section)

== When is Hanukkah 2024? ==
'''Hanukkah 2024''' begins on the evening of '''Thursday, December 12''' and continues through the evening of '''Friday, December 20'''. The first night of Hanukkah is always a highly anticipated event, as families come together to light the '''menorah''', exchange gifts, sing traditional songs, and celebrate the miracles that Hanukkah represents.

=== What is Hanukkah? ===
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of the '''oil that lasted eight days''' in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem. In the second century BCE, when the Jewish people were living under the rule of the Seleucid King Antiochus IV, he desecrated the Holy Temple by erecting an altar to the Greek gods. A group of Jewish warriors, the '''Maccabees''', revolted and successfully regained control of the temple.

Upon reclaiming the temple, they found that only enough oil remained to light the temple's menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, allowing enough time to prepare new oil. This miracle is the basis for the '''eight-night celebration''' of Hanukkah.

=== The Significance of the First Night of Hanukkah 2024 ===
The '''first night of Hanukkah 2024''', which falls on '''Thursday, December 12''', is a time for families to come together, reflect on the significance of the holiday, and begin the lighting of the menorah. The menorah is a candelabra with nine branches, one for each night of Hanukkah, and an additional branch called the '''shamash''' (helper) used to light the other candles.

On the '''first night of Hanukkah''', one candle is lit on the menorah. Each subsequent night, one more candle is added until all eight candles are lit on the final night. This lighting symbolizes the increasing strength of the miracle that occurred and the growing light in the world. Families often recite prayers, sing '''Hanukkah songs''', and enjoy traditional foods during this time.