For most individuals, Hanukkah is spelled like that or it may be spelled like Chanukah. This is because of the Hebrew translation of the word so it can be spelled many different ways as the sound of the word starts with “ch” so many feel it is spelled as Chanukah while others prefer starting it with “ha” and saying Hanukkah. The problem is the Hebrew spelling and the translation from Hebrew to English doesn’t exist. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation, which is why there are a lot of Google hits on these particular keywords all the time as many people are seeking to find out how to really spell Hanukkah along with what the meaning of Hanukkah is.
Hanukkah is written חנֻכה or חנוכה (Ḥǎnukkâh) in Hebrew, which does make it difficult for many languages to translate it. This is why you get the pronunciation of “ch” in many languages as it is said “chan” “ooo” “kaaa”. Then in some languages the beginning is not pronounced as the H is voiceless. So in some countries the translation is a hard “k” and others it is silent.
According to Google, there are several different ways in which Hanukkah is spelled and several ways in which people search for it online. Here are some of the most popular spellings of the word:
- Hanukkah
- Chanukah
- Hannukah
- Chanuka
- Chanukkah
- Hanuka
- Channukah
- Chanukka
Google has been able to track at least 16 different ways to spell Hanukkah. It is all based on the translation and how the different words sound in different languages. Depending upon the religion you are, you may be used to one or two different spellings of the word. Most individuals that celebrate the festival of lights prefer to spell it Chanukah. This is usually based on religious preferences with the word but many in America prefer to spell it as Hanukkah because it is the official spelling from the Library of Congress.
What is Hanukkah exactly? If you have only heard about the festival of lights and you do not have a lot of information and experience with this unique holiday, allow us to provide you with some information. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and it can start at the end of November or the beginning of December. For eight days and eight nights you will commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple.
Every day a candle is lit at sundown and a prayer is said to commemorate the dedication of the temple. The lights are placed on a Menorah and each branch holds a significant part and light. On the Menorah there are 8 branches and one extra branch that is raised higher from the others. This is the light that will always shine and it is used to help shine in darkness as you are forbidden to use the Hanukkah lights for this purpose.
What is the meaning behind the word Hanukkah? It simply translates as “to dedicate” as this is the time when the Jews were able to gain control over Jerusalem and were able to rededicate their Holy Temple. There are several other translations and interpretations of the word but for most, it is simply refereed to ad dedication.
There are many families that celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. This is quite common as many individuals are marrying members of other faiths and having split-religious families. Having a Hanukkah celebration and then a Christmas celebration will allow children to gain a greater understanding of different religions and cultures. Many that are celebrating Hanukkah will exchange a gift each day. These gifts can be something tangible or it can be a gift of service to another.
