Tomorrow 2 percent of Americans will wish each other “Hanukkah Sameach,” according to Pew Research Center. As someone who’s a part of the majority of Americans who aren’t Jewish, my knowledge of Hanukkah was limited to the blue colors that accompany a fancy candelabrum and a peppy song about making a dreidel out of clay.

Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, begins on the 25 of Kislev, the third month in the Jewish lunar calendar. This year, Hanukkah corresponds with Dec. 2 through Dec. 10 on the standard calendar.

Junior elementary education major Lea Saichek, a participant in the NIU chapter of the Hillel, describes Hanukkah as a joyful, familial and bright holiday.

Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration of a centuries-old miracle. In 2 B.C. during the reclaiming of the temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people only found enough oil to reignite the menorah for a day. A menorah is a seven stemmed candle holder that symbolizes God’s presence and isn’t supposed to be extinguished.

Despite the limited supply of oil, the menorah continued to burn for an astonishing eight days. Hanukkah is a celebration of this miracle and shows God’s provision for the Jewish people.

The holiday is celebrated by igniting candles of the nine stemmed menorah. The taller, central candle is used to light each candle every night after sundown. The first night of Hanukkah signifies one candle will be lit, on the second night two candles will be lit, and so on.

It’s traditional for parents to buy their children a present for each night of Hanukkah. Her extended family typically commemorate the holiday by getting together for a gift exchange, Saichek said.

During these gatherings, the dreidel and tokens are used to play a game of chance. Similar to dice, the dreidel is spun to determine if the player contributes a token to the pot, does nothing, takes half or everything.

One of the most beloved traditions of any holiday is the food. With Hanukkah comes fried food, celebrating the miracle of the oil. Donuts and latkes, or potato pancakes, are especially popular. Gelts, or golden chocolate coins, are also eaten in celebration.

Decorations for Hanukkah are typically limited to indoor displays, however, some of Saichek’s neighbors do put out inflatable menorahs or project menorahs onto their houses.

The Festival of Lights is a bright time of the year. This isn’t just because of the lights, but because of the people you spend the holiday with, Saichek said.