Hanukkah: Finding Light, Joy, and Connection in the Festival of Lights

As winter settles in and the nights grow long, Hanukkah arrives like a gentle glow, eight days of warmth, celebration, and a reminder that even the smallest spark can brighten the darkest season. Whether you grew up celebrating or are discovering the holiday for the first time, Hanukkah offers something beautifully universal: a story of hope, resilience, and the power of light. 

The Story That Inspires 

At its heart, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees reclaimed it from the Seleucid Empire more than 2,000 years ago. According to tradition, when the Jewish people went to relight the sacred menorah, they found only enough pure oil for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight. 

That tiny flame, stubbornly refusing to go out, became a symbol of perseverance. It’s a reminder that even when the odds seem impossibly small, unexpected blessings can appear. 

A Glow That Grows Night by Night 

One of the most uplifting traditions of Hanukkah is the lighting of the hanukkiah, a nine-branched menorah. Each night, another candle joins the dance of flames until, by the eighth night, the whole candelabrum shines bright. 

There is something calming and hopeful about this slow buildup of light. It’s a ritual that says:
Life doesn’t have to change all at once—just add a little lighter every day. 

Many families place their hanukkiah in a window, sharing that light with neighbours and passersby. It’s a simple gesture, but a beautiful one: brightness offered to the world.