Hanukkah 2024 Traditions. From lighting a menorah, to giving out gelt, to eating cheese—find out how these hanukkah traditions began. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the maccabees over the syrian greeks in 164 bce and the rededication of the jewish temple to god — a dedication that was crowned by the lighting of the temple’s menorah.

The historic event sparked hanukkah traditions that last to this. Hanukkah is a jewish holiday, often referred to as the festival of lights. hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of the jewish month of kislev, which may fall.