Hanukkah
Celebrated sundown Dec. 11 to sundown Dec. 19, 2009
| Hanukkah (also commonly spelled “Chanukah”) is an eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which may occur from late November to late December. |
| Hanukkah means “rededication” in Hebrew. The holiday commemorates an event that occurred 23 centuries ago, marking the survival of Judaism. |
| Hanukkah is one of the best known and most joyous holidays for the Jewish community. |
| Hallmark produced its first Hanukkah cards in the 1940s. |
2009 Product Features
- Hallmark’s Tree of Life card line for Jewish consumers offers more than 100 Hanukkah cards.
- Messages reflect the meaning and essence of the holiday, including family-specific cards for spouses, in-laws, grandparents, and children.
- Hallmark Tree of Life Hanukkah cards offer inspirational messages, as well as humorous sentiments for both adults and children. Card designs feature culturally relevant Jewish symbols, rich colors and beautiful illustrations.
- More humor was added to this year's Hallmark Tree of Life Hanukkah line, based on consumer requests.
- Value-priced multi-card packages in several designs make it easy to send Hanukkah greetings to family and friends.
- Hallmark offers a Hanukkah boxed card set design that benefits UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Fund).
- Several gift wrap designs, ribbons and accessories are available. Some of the designs feature traditional Jewish icons such as the Star of David and the menorah in blue and silver, which are the colors of the season.
- Hallmark also offers festive paper partyware featuring the menorah in colors of the season, as well as a coordinating Stickeroni™ from Hallmark sticker.
Holiday History
Hanukkah refers to a second century (165 B.C.E.) conflict when Palestine was caught between two great Hellenistic powers: Egypt and Syria. This conflict divided the empire of Alexander the Great. Under Syrian power, there was a campaign to establish political and religious conformity by “Hellenizing” the Jews, forcing them to adopt Greek dress and customs. Even more serious, the Syrian emperor decreed that the Temple in Jerusalem, the national house of worship, would become a temple to the Greek god, Zeus.
A small band of soldiers led by Judah Maccabee staged a successful rebellion against the Syrians and rededicated the Temple. Hanukkah celebrates the restoration of religious freedom, and the preservation of Jewish customs and the traditional Jewish worship service.
The “Festival of Lights” refers to the legend of a miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Temple. When the Jews sought to rekindle the menorah in the Temple sanctuary, they found only enough purified oil to last one day, yet miraculously, the small portion of oil burned for eight days – the length of time required to purify new oil.
In Stores
Available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and wherever Hallmark Tree of Life products are sold. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com or call 1-800-396-TREE (8733) to find the nearest Tree of Life retailer.