Everything You Should Know About the 20 Most Celebrated Hanukkah Traditions
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Whether you've been celebrating Hanukkah your whole life or were just invited to a Hanukkah dinner for the first time, there's so much to love about this meaningful Jewish holiday.
This year, Hanukkah (which can also be spelled "Chanukah") begins at sundown on Dec. 7 and ends on Dec. 15. Although it takes place around the same time as Christmas, the Festival of Lights is distinctly different.
"Because of this timing, the symbol of light in darkness, and the custom of giving gifts to children, some people assume Chanukah is a 'Jewish Christmas.' It is not," says Rabbi Lenore Bohm, author of Torah Tutor: A Contemporary Torah Study Guide. "Chanukah commemorates a military and spiritual victory of the few against the many and the small against the large. Chanukah also celebrates faith: A small cruse of oil is said to have lasted 8 days and kept the menorah lit in the great Temple in Jerusalem in the year 164 BCE. We can't know if this truly happened, but we do know that people who recorded the story in the Books of Maccabees believed that their coreligionists' faith was that strong," she says.
Today, Hanukkah is celebrated by exchanging gifts, decorating the home, and most importantly, lighting the menorah. Read on to learn more about the spiritual, historical, and cultural significance behind 20 of the most popular and widely honored Hanukkah traditions.
Lighting the Menorah
"The most important aspect of Chanukah is lighting the nine-branch candelabra, either called a chanukiyah or a chanukah menorah," Rabbi Bohm says. "Each night, one additional candle is lit, for eight nights."
More: The 10 Best Electric Menorahs
Using the Shamash to Light the Menorah
Rabbi Bohm notes that the remaining ninth candle (usually set apart from the rest on the menorah) is called the shamash, which is always lit first — and then used to light the other candles.
"It's such a beautiful, quiet custom. By 'quiet,' I mean it is simple and elegant," she says.
Placing the Chanukiyah in a Window
"It is considered laudable to place one's chanukiyah in front of a window, so passersby can see it and enjoy the dancing flames," Rabbi Bohm says.
Reflecting on the Meaning of Hanukkah
"Family and friends stand together around these simple lights and feel the pull of lights at a dark season (for some, a dark world)," Rabbi Bohm says. "Each night, the light gets brighter and brighter because of an additional candle being lit. It's such a meaningful metaphor for increasing light and blessing in the world."
Women Don't Work While the Candles Are Burning
Ladies, sit back and relax! This comes from the Code of Jewish Law, which explains that the purpose of the Hanukkah candles is solely to remind us of the meaning of the holiday. They aren't supposed to be used for any other purpose.
According to Chabad.com, "Women do not do any work in the candles' presence, to avoid all appearances of using the light of the menorah." This is in contrast to the purpose of Shabbat candles.
Lighting the Menorah First on Shabbat
On the night of Hanukkah that falls on Shabbat, it's traditional to light the menorah candles before lighting the Shabbat candles. Traditionally, the menorah is lit by the men and boys, while the Shabbat candles are lit by the women and girls.
Singing Hebrew Blessings
"Three Hebrew blessings are sung the first night of the holiday, and two blessings are sung the remaining nights," Rabbi Bohm says.
Playing Dreidel
"There is a game associated with Chanukah called 'dreidel,' which means 'spinning top,'" Rabbi Bohm says. "It's a simple game, no skill required, and a lot of fun for kids."
She explains how to play: "A dreidel has four sides, and each side has a Hebrew letter on it. Whichever letter faces up when the dreidel falls indicates whether the player takes all the nuts (or pennies, jelly beans, etc.) from the central pile, half the amount, or adds from their own stash to the pile."
Giving Gelt to Children
According to a post written by Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz for ReformJudaism.org, the gelt symbolizes the coins "that the Maccabean victors distributed to the Jewish widows, soldiers, and orphans, possibly at the first celebration of the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple."
Making Latkes
"Because Chanukah celebrates, among other things, the oil that lasted well beyond its 'use by' date, foods fried in oil are associated with Chanukah," Rabbi Bohm says. "Potato latkes are delicious with sour cream or applesauce."
Creative twists on Hanukkah latke recipes now appear on many holiday tables.
Eating Special Donuts
"In Israel, bakery windows display exquisite, intricately decorated donuts for people to sample and enjoy," Rabbi Bohm says.
Doling Out the Dairy
According to History.com, serving foods like cheese blintzes, cheesecake, and other dairy items is an emerging Hanukkah tradition.
"It is customary in some Jewish households to eat dairy foods in memory of the legendary brave heroine Judith, who tempted the wicked General Holofernes with dairy foods, and then lured him to his death, saving the Jewish nation," says Rabbi Douglas Sagal.
Donating or Volunteering on the Sixth Night of Hanukkah
Some families choose to focus on the Jewish value of tikkun olam, or the "repair of the world," on the sixth night of Hanukkah. Households can observe this night by donating to charity, volunteering to deliver meals, working a shift at a food pantry, or giving back to the community in any way they're able to.
More: 35+ Gifts That Give to Charity
Playing Hanukkah Music
"There are many songs associated with Chanukah, and they are mostly playful and joyous," Rabbi Bohm says. She shared that Peter Yarrow of the band Peter, Paul and Mary wrote "Light One Candle"as a contemporary Hanukkah song.
Another well-known and "much more irreverent" tune associated with the holiday is Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song."
Exchanging Gifts
According to a post written by Rabbi Jill Crimmings for ReformJudaism.org, the custom of exchanging gifts on Hanukkah came about in conjunction with Christmas. However, she also notes that "many aspects of the gift-giving ritual have distinctly Jewish roots."
Sharing Hanukkah Greetings
If you're wondering how to wish your friends and family a happy holiday, you can simply say (or write, if you're sending a text or card) "Happy Hanukkah" or "Hanukkah sa-may-akh" in Hebrew.
Gathering With Family and Friends
As with many Jewish and non-Jewish holidays, part of what makes Hanukkah special is the opportunity to gather with family, friends, neighbors, and other special people. There's room for everyone at the Hanukkah table!
Watching TV or Movies About Hanukkah
In a handful of Reddit threads about the holiday, many people mentioned that their family's Hanukkah traditions include watching Hanukkah movies or TV specials, like "A Rugrats Chanukah"and "Hanukkah Tales and Tunes."
Attending a Public Menorah Lighting
At a public menorah lighting, guests will typically recite blessings, sing songs, and watch as the menorah is lit.
Making Hanukkah-Related Arts and Crafts
Part of the fun of Hanukkah is making seasonal cards, homemade dreidels, DIY menorahs, and other themed crafts.
More: 20 Fun Hanukkah Gifts for Kids
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