Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. It is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. Three colors are traditionally associated with Hanukkah – blue, white, and gold. These colors symbolize important elements of the Hanukkah story and Jewish faith.
The History and Significance of the Hanukkah Colors
The history behind the Hanukkah colors originates in the story of the holiday itself. Over 2,000 years ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucid Empire. In 167 BCE, the Seleucid king Antiochus IV ordered the defiling of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and banned Jewish religious practices. This sparked a revolt by a small band of Jewish rebel warriors called the Maccabees. After three years of fighting, the Maccabees miraculously drove the much larger and better-equipped Seleucid army out of Jerusalem in 164 BCE.
When the Maccabees entered the Temple, they found it badly damaged and defiled from years of neglect. They cleaned and restored the Temple and sought to light the menorah (candelabra) in the sanctuary, but could only find one day’s worth of pure olive oil. However, the menorah miraculously stayed lit for eight full days, allowing them enough time to make more pure olive oil. The eight-day celebration of Hanukkah commemorates this miracle.
The Hanukkah colors emerged over time as symbolic representations of key components of the Hanukkah story:
Blue
Blue represents the skies and ocean waters, and calls to mind the divine presence of God. It is inspired by the massive blue canopy that covered the Jewish Temple. To the Maccabees, the blue canopy was a powerful reminder of God watching over them during their battle for religious freedom. Blue also echoes the blue stripes on the tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) and other Jewish ritual objects.
White
White symbolizes the purity regained when the Maccabees cleared the Temple of idols placed there by the Seleucids. The white also represents the oil that miraculously burned for eight nights when there was only enough for one night.
Gold
Gold represents the beauty and radiance of the restored Temple menorah after the Maccabees’ victory. The gold shimmer of the menorah burning brightly for eight days is commemorated through the gold color. Gold also symbolizes the preciousness of God’s divine presence and the importance of the Temple to Jewish heritage.
Use of the Colors in Hanukkah Decorations
Over time, these three colors became integrated into Hanukkah celebrations through the use of blue and white candles, gold menorahs, gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins called gelt, and an emphasis on these colors in all aspects of Hanukkah decor.
The nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, called a hanukkiah, typically features eight branches plus one raised branch for the shamash (helper) candle used to light the other candles. While menorahs can be made from various materials, gold is the most traditional color. Gold menorahs recall the radiance of purified Temple menorah in the Hanukkah story.
| Color | Use in Hanukkah Decorations |
|---|---|
| Blue | Blue candles, tablecloths, banners |
| White | White candles, tablecloths, banners |
| Gold | Gold menorah, gold Dreidels, gold coins |
In addition to gold menorahs, the candles lit on the hanukkiah are traditionally blue and white. Blue and white are considered symbolic of the purity, divinity, and Jewish heritage represented by the colors. Many Jewish families use blue and white candles to observe the tradition.
Other Hanukkah decorations like tablecloths, wall banners, napkins, and other items also integrate blue, white, and gold elements. These colors have become so ingrained in Hanukkah celebrations that they are instantly recognizable as Hanukkah colors.
Blue and White in Other Jewish Traditions
Beyond Hanukkah, blue and white are featured prominently in other aspects of Jewish culture and faith.
The Israeli flag, adopted in 1949 after Israel’s independence, displays a blue six-pointed Star of David on a white background. The blue represents the traditional Jewish prayer shawl, or tallit. This echoes blue’s connections to holiness, prayer, and Torah. The white background invokes the biblical verse of the Jewish people being “a light unto the nations.”
The prayer shawl mentioned above, the tallit, is traditionally striped blue and white. Worn during morning prayers on weekdays, the blue stripes are said to represent God’s divine presence and commandments. White represents the purity of the Jewish people and their devotion to God’s laws.
Beyond the tallit, the colors blue and white more broadly represent Torah study and mitzvoth (good deeds) in Jewish life. They are a reminder of the commitment to leading a spiritually observant and righteous life.
Conclusion
Blue, white, and gold hold deep symbolic meaning in the Hanukkah story and connect the holiday to essential elements of Jewish heritage. Blue and white represent divine presence, purity, and dedication to the Jewish faith. Gold celebrates the radiance of God, the importance of the Temple, and the miraculous Hanukkah story.
The use of blue, white, and gold in Hanukkah decorations has transformed these colors into visual symbols of the holiday readily recognized by Jewish communities and broader society. Beyond Hanukkah, blue and white signify Jewish identity and values across history to the modern day.
