n. Judaism An eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, commemorating the victory in 165 BC of the Maccabees over Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 215-164 BC) and the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem. Also called Feast of Dedication, Feast of Lights, Festival of Lights. [Hebrew ḥănukkâ, dedication, from ḥānak, to train, dedicate; see ḥnk in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] |
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