The festival of Lights, Hanukkah, (Chanukah) meaning "dedication" is, in the Jewish faith, a holiday that derives from the story of a lamp expected to burn for only a day that burned for eight nights. At the celebration today, one candle is lit each night and placed in a special candleholder called a menorah to commemorate this miracle. An additional candle is lit each night.
The holiday is celebrated by reading the story in the Old Testament and dining on special foods made by frying in oil such as potato pancakes or latkes and donuts. Games, spinning the four-sided top called a dreidel, with Hebrew letters representing "a great miracle happened there" and gifts are part of each day's festivities. It's a time of celebration and family closeness.
Children look forward to receiving gold wrapped chocolate coins called "gelt."