▷ How Is Hanukkah Celebrated Around The World?

Hanukkah is a special holiday celebrated by millions of Jews around the world each year. But what exactly is celebrated and how different cultures interpret the holiday may vary. From activities particular to different cultures to time-honored traditions, Hanukkah is celebrated in various ways worldwide.

Table of Contents

1 Hanukkah Traditions

Hanukkah Traditions

Hanukkah is a celebration of liberation from persecution with a focus on rededication and commemoration of the miracle of when one day’s worth of oil lasted for eight days. It is a joyous holiday that celebrates the miracle of dedicating the Second Temple and commemorates a miraculous victory over the Syrian-Greeks over 2,000 years ago.

The celebration of Hanukkah has its own unique set of customs, including playing with a four-sided spinning top called a ‘dreidel’, giving children gifts, and eating traditional Hanukkah foods like sufganiyot (fried donuts). There are various, specific ways that different cultures celebrate the holiday, including:

American Jews

In America, Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting a nine-branched menorah (candelabra) with eight candles and a separate candle known as the shamash (servant) which is used to light each additional candle. Additionally, a potato pancake called latkes are traditionally served with applesauce or sour cream. A common game played by children is the game of dreidel, in which a dreidel is spun and the players compete to win the game’s “pot” with a series of chances to either put in, or take out from the pot.

Russian Jews

Russian Jews celebrate Hanukkah in many familiar ways, like lighting the menorah and eating latkes, but many traditions have been adapted over the centuries in Eastern Europe. They celebrate the ‘Protection of the Grandmother’ with an emphasis on matriarchs of the home. This is celebrated through a number of ceremonies, from setting an extra chair at the Shabbat table for the Shekhinah (a divine presence) to setting an extra place setting at the Hanukkah table. The menorah is also kept burning all eight nights in the hallway in the home of an observant family, as a representation for Jews in darkness who continue to cling on to their faith. They also celebrate the holiday by sharing stories of the Maccabees and of the miracle of the oil with the children, as well as giving them small gifts.

Israeli Jews

In Israel, Hanukkah is a very widely celebrated holiday. Ancient Jewish customs of the Maccabees are still observed, such as reading the Book of Maccabees on the holiday and the entire city participating in Hanukkah related activities, from playing with dreidels in the streets to visiting Hanukkah-themed art galleries or photo exhibitions. The biggest difference of Hanukkah in Israel, however, is the amount of parades that are put on during the occasion. In almost any city throughout the country, marching bands play religious and popular music that fill the streets with a feeling of joy and celebration.

Hanukkah is a major holiday in many cultures that is celebrated differently all around the world. Whether it’s in America, Russia, or Israel, the spirit of the holiday stays the same. Commemorated with a burning of the menorah, special rituals, traditional food, and giving of presents, Hanukkah is a holiday for those celebrating liberation from persecution, and their commitment to rituals and dedication to the Second Temple.

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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.