Hanukkah celebrations underway in Houston: 'May the lights continue to shine now and always'

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wane in the U.S., Hanukkah traditions that could not be observed last year are making a comeback.

As the sun went down on Nov. 28, the first night of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, kicked off. The city of Houston offers a variety of ways that the Jewish community can celebrate the eight-day holiday, and Council member Abbie Kamin was happy to extend her Hanukkah wishes to those who celebrate the Jewish holiday, not only in her district, but around the world.

“Happy Hanukkah to all in District C and across the world who are celebrating. May the lights continue to shine now and always!” Kamin tweeted on Nov. 28.

The 19th Annual Hanukkah Menorah Parade took place on the first night of Hanukkah. This year's event honored the city of Houston’s first responders. The Chabad Outreach reported that 50 menorahs were put on top of cars, and they were escorted by Houston police, fire trucks, EMS and rescue vehicles.

The parade left from the Chabad Outreach Center and arrived at Houston City Hall, where there was a menorah lighting ceremony. This was followed by a program for children with crafts, a raffle and a Hanukkah gift box.

There was also a Post Oak Menorah Lighting that included an audio walking tour telling the story of the holiday. Bellaire Town Square hosted a Hanukkah festival as well, which included a dinner buffet, crafts, treats and and a giant menorah.

Sugar Land hosted a Hanukkah Outdoor Extravaganza that included bounce houses, face painting, music and performances. 

According to Chabad, Hanukkah is an eight-day festival of lights that is celebrated with a menorah lighting each night, prayers and fried foods, such as doughnuts and latkes (potato pancakes). It began on the eve of Kislev 25 on the Hebrew calendar, running from sundown on Nov. 28 to sundown on Dec. 6 this year.

The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication,” as it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. In the second century BCE, the Syrian-Greeks tried to force the Israelis to accept Greek culture instead of their own mitzvah observance and their own God. As the story goes, a small group of Jews led by Judah the Maccabee defeated a massive army to reclaim the temple.

“When they sought to light the Temple's menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks,” Chabad says. “Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.” The miracle of the oil is the reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights.

Other Hanukkah events happening in Houston can be found at ChabadHouston.com.