Hanukkah is an eight-day, wintertime, Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem following its desecration by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the 2nd century BC. As with many Jewish holidays, Hanukkah includes prayer services, community gatherings, gift-giving, and special foods. Every family celebrates Hanukkah differently in different ways, depending on their tradition and personal preference.
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The Meaning of Hanukkah
The name Hanukkah means dedication. This holiday is sometimes called “The Festival of Lights” because it celebrates the miraculous rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. On the first night of Hanukkah, it is customary to light the first of eight candles on the menorah. There’s a saying that each of us should “light up our souls more than the oil in the Hanukkah lamps.”
How Families Celebrate Hanukkah
Prayer Services
On the first night of Hanukkah, most Jewish families attend services at their synagogue or a religious community center. The sermons usually focus on the importance of rededication and how we should dedicate our lives to God.
Gift Giving
Gift giving is one of the most popular Hanukkah traditions. In many families, children get eight days of presents from their parents and other family members. Many families give small gifts or money in eight individual gifts, one for each night of Hanukkah.
Community Gatherings
On Hanukkah, many Jews gather in local homes or community centers for celebrations. Friends and family often exchange gifts, light the menorah, play traditional games like dreidel, and eat Hanukkah treats like latkes and sufganiyot. Some communities also organize large public celebrations with music and dancing.
Special Foods
A traditional Hanukkah meal includes potatoes that are fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot. Latkes are potato pancakes and sufganiyot are donuts filled with jelly or custard. Other popular Hanukkah treats include jelly-filled doughnuts, noodle kugel, zucchini kugel, and other fried foods.
Hanukkah is a special and meaningful holiday for many people around the world and every family celebrates it in their own unique way. Whether it’s attending prayer services, exchanging gifts, lighting the menorah, gathering with friends and family or eating traditional Hanukkah foods, the traditions of Hanukkah are just as important as the miracle that’s being celebrated.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.