TORONTO, Ont. – Jewish people around the world will light the first candle at sundown Saturday to usher in Hanukkah — the eight-day “Festival of Lights.”

The holiday celebrates the miracle of one day’s worth of consecrated oil fueling the eternal light in the Holy Temple for eight days.

Food is a big part of the celebration, so it’s common to eat fried foods like latkes, which are potato pancakes. Fried foods are especially common during Hanukkah to represent the importance of oil to the holiday.

Members of the family generally light the first candle on the Menorah on the first night, followed by one more candle each night at sunset to represent the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.

Family members sometimes exchange small gifts each night.

Hanukkah is not considered one of the most holy holidays in the Jewish calendar, and regular activities like work and school are generally continued.

Hanukkah ends on Dec. 16.