Washington, D.C.

A young boy dressed as a Maccabee soldier attends the National Menorah Lighting celebration on the White House Ellipse on December 18.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after a rebellion led by Judah Maccabee took back the city from Greek rule in 165 B.C.

As part of the ritual to cleanse the temple, Judah ordered the menorah to be lit, but the temple only had enough oil to burn for one day. According to legend, the oil miraculously burned for eight days, and the festival of Hanukkah honors this miracle.

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