Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the time of the Maccabean Revolt. It is also known as the Festival of Lights, symbolising the miracle of the oil, where a day's worth of oil lasted for eight days. It is typically marked by festive meals, family gatherings, gift-giving, and most notably, the kindling of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. One additional light is lit on each night of the festival. The observance of Hanukkah has its climax on the last day, also known as Hanukkah Ends.

The historical roots of Hanukkah link back to the second century BCE in Jerusalem. However, the observance of Hanukkah Ends gained significance in Germany in the 19th century within the domestic sphere of German-Jewish families. This was a period when more emphasis was placed on family celebrations, and rituals became deeply ingrained in German-Jewish culture. Ever since then, Hanukkah Ends has continued to be a vital part of the Jewish calendar in Germany, symbolising community, resilience and continuity.

In Germany, Hanukkah Ends is observed with traditional customs such as lighting the final candle on the menorah, playing the dreidel game, and indulging in festive meals. Such meals often feature foods fried in oil, like doughnuts and potato pancakes, to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The date of Hanukkah Ends is determined by the Hebrew calendar, but it generally takes place in December. Specifically, it falls on the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet, which in the Gregorian calendar is usually between the 27th of December and the 7th January, depending on the year.