The Jewish people, although not a major holiday from a religious standpoint, celebrate Hanukkah for eight nights around the month of December. Here are some traditions that make the holiday great!
1. Making Potato Latkes
Latkes are a delicious potato pancake that is made to celebrate the holiday. They are fried in oil and many people eat them with applesauce, sour cream or cinnamon and sugar.
2. Being with Family
Hanukkah is a great opportunity to gather as a family to celebrate the holiday. Many families may have a large dinner and exchange gifts.
3. Lighting the Menorah
The menorah has nine candles with one of them being raised higher than the others to symbolize the lighter candle. Each night, an additional candle is lit to represent the Hanukkah story.
4. Playing the Dreidel Game
The dreidel is a four-sided top with 4 different Hebrew letters on each side. You spin the dreidel and whichever letter is shown facing up when it stops spinning shows how much of the pot you get to keep. Whether that be half, none, give away one, or keep it all!
5. Eating Sufganiyot (jelly donuts)
Fried foods are very big on Hanukkah because of the importance of oil to the holiday. Jelly donuts, or sufganiyot, are a delicious way to celebrate.
6. Giving Gelt
Gelt are chocolate coins that are wrapped in gold foil to resemble money. Many people use them to play the dreidel game or to give as small gifts.
7. Giving Gifts
Although it is not religiously stated to give gifts for the holiday, many Jewish people have a gift exchange with their family. Some may give one gift per night for the length of Hanukkah however, not everyone chooses to partake in that tradition and may have a gift exchange all at once at a big family dinner.
8. Telling the Hanukkah Story
After the temple was destroyed in Jerusalem, the people looked for oil to use in the menorah as a light while repairing the temple. There was only enough oil to last for one day, however by the Hanukkah miracle, the oil lasted for eight days. Because of this, the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah for eight days to thank g-d for the miracle of lights.
9. Singing Songs/ Saying Prayers
During the lighting of the menorah, two prayers are recited. They thank g-d for the oil provided to allow our ancestors to rebuild the temple as well as the miracle of Hanukkah.
