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• To commemorate these events, the Jews added an extra branch on each side of the Menorah or Candlestick. Instead of three branches on each side, there were now four - eight in total, to commemorate the eight days which the oil burned for.
• These fabulous events are known as the Maccabean Revolt. Ever since then, Jews have celebrated it every year, even down to the present day. As we read in 1 Maccabees, these events happened on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, which corresponds to around December in the western calendar. Ironically, at the very time of year that the pagans celebrated the winter solstice on December 25th, the Jews celebrate victory over the pagans at Hanukkah.