▷ What Is Hanukkah This Year?

Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration of lights held in the late fall or early winter. This year, Hanukkah will begin on the evening of Thursday, December 10th and will end on the evening of Friday, December 18th. Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabean victory over the Greeks and rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. During Hanukkah, candles are lit each night for 8 days to remember the miracle of oil that lasted for 8 days. Food plays an important role in Hanukkah, and special treats are enjoyed such as latkes, sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and a chocolate-filled game called dreidel. Games, songs, and prayer are also significant elements of the celebration.

Hanukkah makes a great opportunity for families, friends, and communities to come together. This year is a particularly special time for the Jewish people, because the 2020 Hanukkah celebration is the first festival since the COVID-19 pandemic forced so much of the nation and the world into a virtual lockdown. However, it doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate in our own unique and meaningful ways.

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1 What To Do During Hanukkah This Year?

What To Do During Hanukkah This Year?

Light the Candles

Lighting the hanukkiah (or, as it’s sometimes known, the Menorah) is the primary way to observe the holiday. Each night of the 8 days of Hanukkah, an extra candle is added to the back of the Hanukkiah from right to left so the newest candle is always the closest to the center. Make sure you light the Hanukkiah when it’s dark and the third of the stars can be seen in the sky.

Eat Special Treats

Some of the most popular treats enjoyed during the holiday include:

Latkes—fried potato pancakes often served with applesauce
Sufganiyot—jelly donuts

Play the Dreidel Game

This unique game is played during the holiday with a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on the side. Players take turns spinning the dreidel, with the object of the game to win chocolate coins (gelt).

Sing and Pray

Singing and saying prayers as a community is a wonderful way to come together during Hanukkah. There are many different Hanukkah songs that people of all ages can join in on – just make sure to observe the social distancing guidelines so everyone can stay safe!

Hanukkah is a time for the Jewish people to come together and celebrate a miracle, remember a battle, and honor their heritage. Even in the face of a pandemic, there are so many ways to make this year’s celebration special. From lighting the Hanukkiah, to eating special treats, playing games, and singing songs, you can make sure Hanukkah 2020 will be one to remember.

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