And so ended our first Hanukkah

Things I learned about Hanukkah:

1. It began as a way to fight against assimilation and the suppression of the Jewish religion. 
2. It is not considered to be an important religious holiday.
3. Nine candles are placed in a menorah* (also called a chanukkiah) with one candle set apart (higher, lower, in front of, behind, etc.). 
4. The extra candle is called the shammus (servant) and is the candle that is used to light all the other candles.
5. The shammus is required because the Hanukkah candles are meant for pleasure and cannot be used in any productive service.
6. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but lit left to right, honoring the newest thing first.
7. There are three blessings (berakhot) that are recited, but one is reserved for the first night only.
8. This is a special year because of how early Hanukkah started. Hanukkah will not fall this early in the year for another 79,000+ years.
9. A minimum of 44 candles are needed to complete the ceremony over eight days.
10. On the eighth night all nine candles remain lit. 
11. It is traditional to eat latkes (i.e., potato pancakes) for Hanukkah. 
12. Latkes are yummy.
13. The traditional gift for Hanukkah is gelt (i.e., money). 
14. It is unusual for Jews to give Hanukkah gifts to anyone other than their own children.
15. Dreidel play is huge around this holiday.
16. A driedel has four Hebrew letters on it: Nun, Shin, Gimmel, Hei; these letters stand for the phrase "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham," which means "a great miracle happened there".
17. The letters also stand for "nit" (nothing), "gantz" (all), "halb" (half), and "shtell". These are the rules of the game!
18. Dreidel is a gambling game typically played with chocolate coins and pennies.

*Our first candle holder has been dubbed the menurkey because of this year's Thanksgivukkah.