For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar

52They rose early on the morning of the twenty-fifth  (25) day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight,^* 53and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar for burnt offerings that they had made.^m 54On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was rededicated with songs, harps, lyres, and cymbals. 55All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success. 56For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. 57They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. 58There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed. 59Then Judas and his brothers and the Entire assembly of Israel decreed that every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth (25)  day of the month Kislev,ⁿ the days of the dedication^* of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary.
60At that time they built high walls and strong towers around Mount Zion, to prevent the Gentiles from coming and trampling it as they had done before.