Why is hanukkah celebrated for 8 days

Hanukkah is when believers celebrate a time, over 2,000 years ago, when the Jews won a battle against the Greeks to practise their religion freely.

The Greeks had banned all Jewish rituals.

Emperor Antiochus tried to make Jewish people bow down in front of a statue of him that had been put in a temple, and pray to Greek gods.

However, the Jews refused to obey him because their religion forbade it.

A group of Jews called the Maccabees fought back against the Emperor's army.

After three years, they won the war and recaptured Jerusalem from the Greeks.

When the Jews went back to their temple, they saw that it had nearly been destroyed.

They cleaned and repaired the temple, and rededicated it to God by lighting the lamp, which was a symbol of God's presence.

They only had one small jar of oil, which was only enough for one day, however, miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.

This is why the Hanukkah festival lasts for eight days and why light is really important in the celebration.