Also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) celebrates two miracles: a great Jewish military victory and a miraculous supply of oil for the Temple. The Hanukkah menorah holds nine candles, one for each of the eight nights and an additional candle that’s used to light the others. One candle is lit on the first night, two on the second night, until all eight candles are lit on the eighth night. Hanukkah is a time to celebrate with family and friends, to eat holiday treats, to give gifts (especially to children) and to play the dreidel game.

Faith Without Borders

For everything there is a season—a time to die and a time to be born. With the arrival of winter’s low dark sky, communities around the world look to the miracle of light as a sign of rebirth and a source of hope. We celebrate the promise of new life and recommit ourselves to the protection of everyone’s right to his or her own radiant humanity.

Celebrating the winter holidays, thus, is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist congregations to express their commitment to our Sixth Principle: We covenant to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. See Sixth Principle Resources for winter holidays.

From Tapestry of Faith Curricula

Unitarian Universalist Perspectives

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12

  • Thoughtful commentary and context for how to light a menorah responsibly and respectfully.
    Video | By Joanna Lubkin | October 10, 2023 | From WorshipLab
    Tagged as: Hanukkah, Judaism, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • We could have assimilated but instead / we rededicate
    Affirmation | By Leah Ongiri | March 1, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Hanukkah, Identity, Judaism, Strength, Tradition, WorshipWeb, Worship
  • We honor the great mystery of the universe, the source of all, which deems everything sacred by its power to unite us...
    Blessing | By Lorenzo Bassman | January 8, 2020 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Hanukkah, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism
  • We light this chalice to remember the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
    Chalice Lighting | By DC Fortune | December 5, 2018 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Earth-Centered, Hanukkah, Hope, Judaism, Mystery, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder
  • We light the Hanukkah candles in wonder, joy, and gratitude, each candle a miracle. When the Holy Temple was rededicated at the time of the Maccabean liberation battle, only one day’s worth of oil remained, yet it burned for eight days so we light candles in remembrance....
    Responsive Reading | By Amanda Udis-Kessler | January 18, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Awe, Freedom, Hanukkah, Judaism, Trust, Wonder
  • As December opens up before us, we welcome in the gift of reflection.
    Affirmation | By Gwen Matthews | December 20, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Earth-Centered, Hanukkah, Hope, IllUUmination, Judaism, Love, Mystery, Paganism, Reverence, Tradition, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • Sheet music (PDF). Kindle candles one by one; night by night, the light it grows. Lights of freedom miracle of faith! Shining out for all to see. We give thanks for miracles. Ancestors who fought for faith. They were brave beyond all hope! Strong, courageous Maccabees. Blessed is the Holy One who...
    Music | By Suzelle Lynch | November 27, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Courage, Freedom, Generations, Hanukkah, Judaism, Tradition
  • Christmas and Hanukah once upon a time were about struggle, hope, and freedom. Both stories are exile stories pointing out how even a glimmer of light can provide a lasting hope for the triumph of all that is good. While we haven’t altogether lost these themes in our modern interpretations, we...
    Reading | By Daniel Chesney Kanter | February 17, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christmas Eve / Christmas, Hanukkah, Interdependence, Meaning, Wealth
  • George: This is Angel Gabriel of KGOD airwaves, coming to you live from the downtown mall in Bethlehem. The air is positively solar as frenzied shoppers scurry from store to store, their camels and donkeys weighted down with purchases. The beasts bawl. There are only, count ‘em and weep shoppers,...
    Story | By Lois Van Leer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Hanukkah, Judaism, Kwanzaa, Multiculturalism, Paganism, Winter Solstice / Yule, Multiculturalism
  • Now is the moment of magic, when the whole, round earth turns again toward the sun....
    Meditation | By Victoria Safford | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Connections, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Hanukkah, IllUUmination, Kwanzaa, Love, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder
  • Spirit of Life, The beginning of the holiday season is filled with temptations to conspicuous consumptions, and pleas for generosity. The contrasts between the values represented by this time of year, and our ability to fulfill them, remind us how great the distance can be between aspirations and...
    Prayer | By Wayne B. Arnason | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Balance, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Hanukkah, Patience, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Vulnerability, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • We are in the midst of the season of celebration. Celebrations: Of the birth of new hope, Of the festival of lights, Of the triumph of freedom. The darkness of the year is lifting and the time of light grows longer. We have gathered with an anticipation of hope for peace on earth and in our homes.
    Meditation | By Elizabeth M Strong | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Ending, Hanukkah, Hope, Letting Go, New Year, Searching, Unitarian Universalism, Winter Solstice / Yule