Hanukkah Christmas Cards

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival and falls during the darkest days of December. It is not the Jewish Christmas but many American Jewish families have adapted certain Christmas customs, for example cards and gifts. The Hanukkah holidays fall on different days between 25th November and 26th December each year. It is a movable feast similar to the Christian Easter. It is a celebration of light. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication". The Hanukkah holiday is known as the 'Feast of Dedication' or the 'Feast of Light'.

The Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days in memory of the Maccabeean uprising and the Temple miracle in Jerusalem. One candle is lit on each night of Hanukkah and there is a special ninth candle called the shammas, or servant light - the one light able to kindle many.

The old custom of distributing Hanukkah gelt (coins) to children has extended to gifts. Often Jewish parents give their children a present for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. In addition, some people also exchange Hanukkah Cards with friends and family.