As the holiday season approaches quickly, most people’s minds instantly go to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s during the holiday season, but let’s not look over Hanukkah – a Jewish holiday celebrating the recovery of Jerusalem and the second temple. The eight-day long holiday is known as the “festival of lights” and is full of fun festivities to encourage people to celebrate. Here are the top ten Hanukkah traditions for you to enjoy this holiday season.
- Singing Songs – Singing songs is a happy cultural practice that unites families and communities and heightens the festive mood. Songs like “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” and “Maoz Tzur” honor the holiday’s joy, resilience, and miracles. As people gather around the menorah, telling stories and laughing, these songs awaken happy memories.
- Eating Cheese – Eating cheese is a Hanukkah tradition which honors the courage of Judith, a Jewish heroine, according to Reader’s Digest, and the role that her homemade cheese played in a military victory. She allegedly gave the enemy, General Holofernes, salty cheese, which caused him to become thirsty enough to get drunk, and ultimately brought about his downfall (rd.com). Despite the interesting background and significance in the holiday, it’s also a yummy treat.
- Giving Gifts – Although Hanukkah is primarily a time to celebrate heritage and miracles, gift-giving, which is a fairly new tradition, according to Town and Country Magazine, giving galt encourages selflessness and individual expression (townandcountrymag.com). The kids certainly enjoy receiving gifts, and every present acts as a reminder of the ties of family members and the warmth of the holiday season.
- Giving Gelt – Giving gelt during Hanukkah is a favorite tradition for many, as it demonstrates sharing and giving. Children are typically gifted chocolate coins or money as a way to teach them the importance of compassion and generosity. In addition to spreading happiness, it puts an emphasis on the importance of sharing during the holiday season.. It inspires acts of kindness while reminding people of the miracles that occur throughout Hanukkah (rd.com).
- Challah – This yummy bread, challah, has a particular meaning during Hanukkah despite being commonly connected to Shabbat (the Sabbath), according to the New York Times. This thick, braided bread is a wonderful addition to holiday parties, as it represents harmony and unity. The inclusion of challah in Hanukkah dinners emphasizes the value of family dinners and other traditions (nytimes.com).
- Reading Scripture – One of the most significant ways to learn about the historical significance of Hanukkah is to read scripture. Reading books like the Book of Maccabees teaches moral principles, and it gives families a chance to think back on Maccabees’ fight for religious freedom. In addition to enhancing the holiday season, this tradition broadens the knowledge of Jewish culture and promotes learning as well as investing in your community (townandcountrymag.com).
- Playing Dreidel – A popular tradition during Hanukkah is playing the dreidel, a four-sided spinning tool which has a different Hebrew letter on each side. It brings excitement and fun for everyone to the yearly festivities. The Hebrew letters on this rotating top is a reminder of the Jewish community’s ability to face hardship. In addition to bringing joy and healthy competition, playing dreidel games with loved ones teaches the meaning of the holiday (rd.com).
- Eating Latkes – The crispy potato pancakes symbolize the miracle of the oil, reminding us of the historical lamp that stayed lit for eight days in the ancient temple. This fan favorite tradition gets everyone excited to gather together and eat latkes. Eating all sorts of different fried foods including jelly filled donuts called sufganiyot and Schnitzel, a deep-fried breaded meat, is not only yummy but is a great way to bond during Hanukkah (townandcountrymag.com).
- Gathering With Family – Similar to many cultures, during Hanukkah, family get-togethers are crucial during the eight days of Hanukkah. People can share their many different traditions, tell stories, and share laughs during these times. These times solidify peoples ties and help them make everlasting memories. Celebrating with loved ones also offers a time for reflection and gratitude, serving as a reminder of the value of unity in their lives.
1. Lighting the Menorah – Lighting the menorah is a long lasting and cherished tradition that has been around for thousands of years, it symbolizes hope, resilience, and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. Each candle symbolizes a Hanukkah night and oil as one day’s oil lasted for eight days. The menorah is one of the most significant traditions of Hanukkah. It strengthens people’s faith, and demonstrates the victory of light over darkness as people light each candle, illuminating their homes and hearts (rd.com).