Dates of Hanukkah 2012: Begins Today

Hanukkah falls on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar – for those who are not familiar, that's at sundown Saturday. The holiday ends the evening of Dec. 16. It's also a little early this year.

The eight-day celebration, also known as Chanukah, commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. 

The Maccabees wanted to rededicate Jerusalem's main temple but had only enough oil to kindle the Eternal Light for one day. Yet the oil lasted for eight, according to the story, and thus the holiday of Hanukkah was born.

In modern times, the celebration is observed through the lighting of candles on a Menorah, the nine-branched candelabrum. Eight candles are lighted each night of Hanukkah and the ninth branch, often given a place of prominence in the center and known as a shamash, is used to light the other candles, as it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah lights is forbidden.

 Other Jewish Hanukkah traditions include playing dreidel and eating special holiday food, like potato latkes.

Iowa State University Professor Barbara Pleasants has said that the holiday is really a celebration of religious freedom.

The first day of Hanukkah is not an official U.S. holiday. Temple Judah of Cedar Rapids has a Chanukah Dinner at 6 p.m. on Sunday.