I'm one of the many who celebrate Hanukkah, and many people don't really know what it is. Hanukkah is basically the Jewish equivalent of Christmas, but it's celebrated for 8 days. Hanukkah seems lame, but here are 8 reasons why Hanukkah truly is the best:

1. The Latkes

The golden brown, absolutely delicious staple meal of Hanukkah: potato pancakes. My parent's hand make these every year. They are the best with applesauce or sour cream.

2. Dreidel/Gelt

This game gets heated. Essentially, you spin a dreidel, and if you get a certain Hebrew letter, you win all the chocolate coins (the gelt) in the pile. The dreidel can spin for a long time...

3. 8 Days= 8 Presents

A perk of Hanukkah: you get one present every night for 8 days. It's a waiting game, but it's fun to have a gift and a surprise every night. The present could be little one day, and huge the next.

4. Lighting The Menorah

The Menorah is the candle holder. Every night, the middle candle is used to light one candle from left to right, even though the candles are placed in the menorah right to left. It's really pretty, and you let the candles burn until they go out.

5. Jelly Donuts

Jelly donuts are always eaten on Hanukkah, as they are fried in oil to commemorate the lasting of the small amount of oil. They are really delicious, and are a great treat after playing dreidel.

6. Family and Friends

Hanukkah is the time to get together with family and friends, especially those you haven't seen in awhile. It's fun to sing songs together, and have a large dinner.

7. Matzo Ball Soup

This soup is so delicious. It's like chicken noodle soup but with matzo balls. My grandma makes it, and I always look forward to it every Jewish holiday.

8. Those Hanukkah Tunes

Even though there are way less Hanukkah songs than Christmas, there a few favs like Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, and Oh Hanukkah. These are always sung every minute of every night.