Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with Chabad RGV at the RGV Annual Chanakuh and Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Enjoy hot latkes; a kosher hot dog stand; carnival rides and games for the kids and more. Open to all and free for the entire family. It will be held Sunday, December 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Archer Park, 101 N. Main St.

Chanakuh, or Hanukkah, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the Second Century B.C. Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for “dedication.”

The history of the holiday is tied to the time when Israel was struggling for existence. It is believed that after a successful revolt against a tyrannical monarch, the victorious Jewish community could find very little pure olive oil to light the Menorah, only enough for one day.

However, the oil lasted for eight days, long enough to purify more oil.

Jewish people light a candle on each of the eight evenings in remembrance of God’s provision.

The eight cups that hold the Hanukkah candles are arranged in a row, one for each night of the holiday. Every menorah has one additional cup, a ninth cup, which is located in the center or to one side and is usually slightly elevated.

The ninth candle is called “the shammash,” or, “one who serves.”

Jewish tradition says the purpose of the shammash is that “Judaism gives light to the world.”

Come celebrate the holiday tradition in McAllen.