This year The Festival of Lights, or the Jewish’s observance of Hanukkah, starts Saturday night coinciding with the Christian celebration of Christmas.

Hanukkah commemorates Jewish priest Judah Maccabee’s victory in the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire that tried to force Greek culture and beliefs on the people of Israel. Against the odds, members of the revolt reclaimed the desecrated Temple and rededicated it to God. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means dedication.

“It’s a time of remembering that the weak did prevail over the strong,” local congregant Ann Gerache said.

Only a single day supply of olive oil was found in the temple to light the menorah, but the candelabrum burned for eight nights — long enough for the Jews to find more untainted oil. The Hanukkah holiday lasts for eight nights in remembrance of the miracle. Families light the candles on the menorah each night of Hanukkah.

“We have actually nine candles on the candelabrum because one is called the servant candle, the shamos. You light that one first, say the blessing and light one candle each night,” Gerache said. “When my children were small we lit the candles eight nights and they always got a small gift.”

The blessing said during the candle lighting shows appreciation and thankfulness for making it through another year.

“We thank God for sustaining us and bringing us to this season of the year,” Gerache said.

A traditional Hanukkah meal would have potato latkes — a grated potato mixed with egg and friend in oil, she said. The latkes are served with applesauce or sour cream.

“The oil is symbolic with the oil that was found are burned for eight days,” Gerache said.

The majority of the Hanukkah celebration happens at home. In fact, she said most Jewish holidays are celebrated at home. However, Temple is held every Friday night just like most Christian churches meet every Sunday morning. Gerache said the local Anshe Chesed Temple would commemorate Hanukkah during their weekly 6:30 p.m. Friday services.

“As adults in this congregation we observe Temple service where we would light the menorah,” she said. “Keep in mind that the Vicksburg congregation is one of the founding members of the Reform Movement in the United States. More observant Jews, could be Conservative or Orthodox, I can’t speak for them.”

The congregation has lay leaders who read the services and has not had a rabbi in more than 20 years. A traveling rabbi does come for High Holy Days, which does not include Hanukkah.

“In the history of Judaism, Hanukkah is a very minor holiday,” Gerache said.

For her family, she said there isn’t a big difference in the way she celebrated Hanukkah as a child to how she observes it now, other than the fact that her children are grown and have families of their own.

“When I had children I observed it differently. It’s more meaningful to children receiving gifts than it is to adults as an observance,” Gerache said. “Hanukkah is a gift giving time in the Jewish faith.”

Jewish holidays are on a lunar or Hebrew calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar used by Christians, she said. Because society uses a Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah starts on a different day each year. On the lunar calendar, Hanukah always starts on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

“It’s not always this close to Christmas,” Gerache said.

Hanukkah can begin any day ranging between Nov. 28 and Dec. 27 on the Gregorian calendar. Last year it started Dec. 6, and next year it will begin Dec. 12.