Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah also celebrates the discovery of a pure cruse of oil which caused the holy light to last 8 days. Festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, lighting candles, playing dreidel, reciting prayer and eating oil based food.