How long have people been celebrateing Hanukkah?

The reason that Hanukkah lasts for 8 days is related to the holiday of Sukkot. Hanukkah lasts 8 days because during the Syrian occupation, the holiday of Sukkot could not be celebrated. As a result, once the Temple was reclaimed from the invaders and rededicated, there was a postponed observance of that holiday which is 8 days

• Answer:

The reason given above ("related to Sukkot") is from a non-traditional source. Traditional Jewish sources (Talmud, Shabbat 21b; and Megillat Taanit ch.9) mention only the miracle of the oil.

The menorah in the Temple was meant to be lit every evening. However, once the Temple was reclaimed from the Syrian-Greek invaders and rededicated, there was only enough oil to last for one day, and it would take eight days to make more. The oil that they had ended up burning for eight days in the Temple's menorah, the perfect amount of time until the new oil could be made and brought.

The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.

The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates only the miracle of the oil.