Hanukkah is an eight-day festival that commemorates the Jewish people’s battle for religious and political freedom more than 2,000 years ago. It is celebrated in the Jewish home with the lighting of the menorah, a special 9-branched candelabra, with each branch signifying an important part of the Hanukkah story. Each night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit, with special rituals and traditions surrounding each one. Jews look at the story of Hanukkah as a way to honor and remember their ancestors and their fight for freedom. So why do Jews celebrate Hanukkah for kids?
Hanukkah is an incredibly special holiday for Jews for many reasons. Foremost, it signifies the victory of a small group of people (the Macabees and their followers) over a much larger force (the Greeks). By lighting the menorah during the holiday, the Jewish people are reminded of the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the temple, allowing them to rededicate and reclaim the holy space after the war.This miracle is something that is available to everyone to partake in, regardless of their age. For younger children, they can learn how the brave Macabees fought for their freedom and how their courage, determination and faith was rewarded. Teaching children and reminding them of their heritage and faith is one of the core parts of celebrating Hanukkah, and the stories can also help to broaden their understanding of the world and how cultures affect one another.
The Tradition of Gift Giving
One of the most well-known traditions of the Hanukkah holiday is the giving of gifts. This is a tradition that is closely associated with the holiday and is a great way to show appreciation to the family members and to demonstrate the importance of giving and the spirit of kindness. Kids especially can get excited about opening presents and trying to guess what might be inside. This encourages generosity and reinforces the idea of giving gifts and kindness as part of a holiday tradition.
Fun and Family Togetherness
The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the light that has been fought for and won, as well as the freedom to practice the Jewish faith. This can often be a difficult concept for a young mind and heart to understand, but the joy of the holiday itself and the fun activities associated with it can be a great way for children to have a tangible holiday experience that is fun and meaningful.
Kids can have fun playing life-size board games with the whole family, or enjoying a game of dreidel, which is a spinning top-like game where kids can win chocolate coins or other prizes. Most of all, the holiday of Hanukkah is about spending quality time with family, feasting, celebrating and sharing stories. Eating honey-dipped sufganiyot, special Hanukkah-style donuts, is also a popular tradition amongst kids and adults alike.
Regardless of everything else, celebrating the story of Hanukkah is a way for Jewish children to maintain their connection to their faith and their people, and to honor and remember the Macabees and their fight for religious and political freedom. Through connecting to their history, children can understand and appreciate their cultures and faith, passing down the stories and traditions to the next generation. It is an important holiday for Jews and everyone else, and for kids it offers a way to bring the stories to life and to learn from the past in order to make the world a better place.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.