▷ What Do They Do In Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that invites celebration and remembrance of the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek-Syrian empire. The eight-day holiday is celebrated by lighting the menorah and playing dreidel, amongst many other ceremonies and activities. But what exactly is done during Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is most commonly known for its festivities, such as eating traditional latkes (potato pancakes), playing dreidel, and exchanging gifts. At the beginning of the festival, it is customary to light candles on a menorah. A unique feature of Hanukkah is that each night, an additional candle is placed in the menorah. This symbolizes the miracle of Hanukkah, where the rededication of the Holy Temple (which the Maccabees recaptured) was itself the miracle of one day’s worth of oil lasting eight days.

In addition to lighting the menorah, another important part of Hanukkah is playing the dreidel. Dating back to the Hellenistic period, a dreidel is a four-sided top with a hebrew letter on each side. The letters have a unique meaning; nun for “nes”, gimel for “gadol”, hei for “haya”, and shin for “sham” which together translate to “A great miracle happened there” (referring to the miracle of Hanukkah). When playing the game, players use gelt (special coins) and a variety of rules.

In addition to Hanukkah’s religious significance and traditional activities, modern and secular Jews often make delightful gift-giving a central part of the celebration. Especially for children, Hanukkah’s presents and candy are cherished.

Hanukkah is a joyous holiday celebrated in a variety of ways, often with the help of a menorah, dreidel, and gifts, to commemorate the Maccabees’ victory and miracle. Although Hanukkah is an exciting moment for families and individuals of the Jewish faith, the true significance of Hanukkah is to remember history and know that sometimes miracles can happen.

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