▷ How To Celebrate Hanukkah For Beginners?

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a time-honored celebration of faith and renewal. For eight days, beginning on the 25th day of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, Jews around the world gather to kindle the eight-branched Hanukkah menorah, dine on fried foods, sing songs, and exchange gifts. Whether you’re Jewish or not, Hanukkah is a fun and festive holiday that anyone can appreciate and learn to celebrate.

Light the Menorah

The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration is the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. Each night of the festival, one additional candle is lighted until all eight candles—plus a ninth candle known as the shamash or helper candle—are ignited.

Prepare your Menorah

Before lighting your menorah, prepare everything you’ll need. For a traditional menorah, you will need nine candle holders and enough wicks and oil to last the entire 8 days of the festival. If you are not able to make your own menorah, modern Hanukkah menorahs can be purchased at Judaica stores, general stores, and online.

Light the Hanukkah Candles

Light the first candle of the menorah on the first evening of the holiday, which usually falls in late November or early December. Here’s the traditional order for lighting a Hanukkah menorah, beginning from right to left with the shamash and then proceeding to the left:

Light the shamash candle.
Recite the blessing, “Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah”.
Light the first candle with the shamash candle.
Recite the blessings for a Chanukiah — which come from the bible — and then light the remaining seven candles.
Recite the additional blessing, “hodu Lashem ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo”.
On the second evening light two candles.
On the third and each consecutive night, light an additional candle.
On the eighth night, all eight candles are lit.

You can find additional information about menorah lighting, blessings, songs, and rituals at numerous resources online.

In addition to menorah lighting, the Hanukkah celebration includes playing games such as dreidel spinning, eating traditional dishes known as latkes (potato pancakes), and exchanging gifts. It is a joyous holiday of reflection, family, and fellowship that can be enjoyed by all. Whether a person is Jewish or not, the Hanukkah celebration can be educational and fun. So, get creative, spread some joy, and celebrate Hanukkah!

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