Hanukkah is celebrated by Jews around the world to observe the miracle of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem that happened over 2000 years ago. Each year, families participate in a variety of traditions to remember and honor the festivities. Here are four common traditions of Hanukkah and how they are practiced.
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The Menorah
The menorah is a eight-branched candelabrum lit on each night of Hanukkah. A new branch is lit on each night of the holiday, until all eight branches are lit. On the final night, all eight are lit simultaneously. There is a so called Shamash, or helper candle, that is lit at the start of the celebration and is then used to light each of the other candles throughout the holiday.
The Dreidel
The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that is often used during the holiday. Each side of the dreidel has a letter on it, forming an acronym that stands for ”Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” which means ”A great miracle happened there”. This is a reference to the miracle of the oil burning for eight nights. The dreidel is used often as a game during Hanukkah in which children spin the top and collect coins, chocolate, or whatever else is being played with.
The Gifts
In some households, gifts are exchanged during Hanukkah. The gifts can come in the form of money, known as gelt, or real gifts in the form of clothes, books, or toys. The gift exchange can be as simple as giving a piece of gelt to each child, or it can be as complicated as a Hanukkah shopping spree or a gift for each night of the holiday.
The Food
Eating traditional Hanukkah food is a very common tradition practiced throughout the holiday. Jewish people often eat fried foods such as latkes, or potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts. The frying is usually done in oil to honor the miracle of the oil burning for eight nights. There are also other foods often eaten during Hanukkah such as kugel and kreplach.
Hanukkah is celebrated in many different ways, each family creating its own special traditions. The four common traditions of Hanukkah – the menorah, the dreidel, gifts, and the food – are often enjoyed by many families in commemorating the miracle of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.