"...Hanukkah," Billy corrected with a small laugh, "Tonight's the first night. Basically...um...at the re-dedication after victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. But the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil. And so we celebrate this miracle every year, and light the eight candles to represent the eight days the oil lasted."