Though the historical basis for the holiday of Hanukkah was only established way after the close of the Jewish Canon in 165 BCE, its conceptual origins begin at the very start of the Bible itself, with the creation story of Adam and Eve.

The Babylonian Talmud tells a peculiar story about Adam in the months following his creation. Apparently, Adam began noticing that the days began to shorten as the Tishrei, the month in which he was created, went on to Cheshvan, and on into the winter month of Kislev. As the daylight hours further contracted and the solstice approached, he got nervous, thinking that God hadn't forgiven him for the sin of the Tree of Knowledge and that he was slowly taking away the sun. Finally, the day after the solstice arrives and Adam notices that the day is starting to get longer once again. He erupts in celebration and offers a sacrifice. This is the first record of a sacrifice by any human being, predating Cain and Abel, at least according to the Rabbinic tradition, and it is offered in direct response to the winter solstice. And of course, the winter solstice usually occurs around Hanukkah time.

Another much overlooked source for Hanukkah comes from the prophet Hagai, a post exilic prophet around the time immediately preceding the rebuilding of the Temple around 510 BCE. According to the book of Hagai, whose book was written to chastise the Jews for not rebuilding the Temple fast enough, we find that the foundation stone for the second Temple was laid on the 25^th of Kislev, the precise date of Hanukkah.

It is possible that the Syrian-Greeks, who defiled the Temple on the 25^th of Kislev, purposely waited for that date in order to send a message to the Jews. And it is even probable that the Jews waited for that date to rededicate (dedication = Hanukkah in Hebrew) the Temple after its defilement.

And is it mere coincidence that the mitzvah of Hanukkah is to light candles, beams of light to cut through the darkness of the winter solstice? My Rabbi once told me that Midnight is the scariest, yet most hopeful part of the night. Why? Because once you reach midnight, you know that you're on your way to morning.

To commemorate Hanukkah this year, you will need a Menorah to light. You can find many beautiful ones like the above Doves Menorah, Hanukkah Dreidels, handmade by the artists in Israel and all part of the MostOriginal's Hanukkah gifts section.