Jews around the world celebrate the Festival of Lights each year to commemorate an ancient victory over oppression.
The history of Hanukkah, coming up next, on Stocking Stuffers.
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Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration marking the Jewish victory over Syrian invaders in the second century B.C.
After the battle, the victorious Jews entered the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to rededicate it to the service of God.
In fact, Hanukkah is the Hebrew term for dedication.
But Jewish teaching describes how the Judean heroes were unable to find enough oil to light the lamps of the Temple.
The amount of oil they had should only have provided enough light for one evening.
Miraculously, it kept the Temple lights burning for eight nights, until new oil could be obtained.
This miracle is recounted each year by the lighting of the eight branches of the Hanukkah menorah.
