[hanukkah candles menorah] * HANUKKAH IS AN AWESOME HOLIDAY. * FRIED FOODS LIKE LATKES (POTATO PANCAKES), SUFGANIYOT (JELLY DONUTS), AND BIMUELOS (FRIED DOUGH BALLS) ARE DELICIOUS. * LIGHTING THE MENORAH BRINGS FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. * Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Many Jewish holidays can be summed up as "We fought, we won, now let's eat," and Hanukkah is no exception. The story goes that while the Jews were living under the Greek empire around 166 BC, King Antiochus IV outlawed Judaism and defiled the Holy Temple that stood in Jerusalem by sacrificing pigs on the altar. A small Jewish army called the Maccabees led a rebellion against the Greeks and won. When they returned to the Temple to relight the ritual menorah (candelabra), they only found enough oil to last one day, but it miraculously lasted eight. Jewish people commemorate the Maccabees' victory during Hannukah by lighting a menorah for eight nights and eating fried foods made with oil. Hanukkah is one of the most recognizable, widely celebrated Jewish holidays around the world — for good reason. Here are 13 reasons why we can't get enough of the Festival of Lights. HANUKKAH IS EIGHT DAYS LONG. Courtesy of Matt Paretsky That's eight days of parties, presents, and festive foods. LATKES, FRIED POTATO PANCAKES TRADITIONALLY EATEN ON HANUKKAH, ARE DELICIOUS. Courtesy of Deborah Lakritz They go perfectly with applesauce, sour cream, and a variety of dipping sauces. SUFGANIYOT ARE JELLY DOUGHNUTS. THEY ARE ALSO A TRADITIONAL HANUKKAH FOOD AND THEY ARE ALSO DELICIOUS. Courtesy of Tamar Lakritz In addition to a jelly filling, some sufganiyot are filled with chocolate or custard. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * All of the hidden details in Netflix's original holiday movies, which are set in the same universe * 9 studies that prove cats make the best pets * 20 facts about New Year's celebrations that might surprise you
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