For eight days and nights, candles are lit, songs are sung, and dreidels are spun to celebrate one of the most joyous of Jewish holidays.
Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday honoring the Maccabees’s victory over King Antiochus, who forbade Jews to practice their religion.
Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar), which is generally in late November to mid-December. That’s why the holiday starts on a different date each year.
For eight nights, candles are lit in a menorah, a candelabrum with spaces for nine candles—one for each night plus a helper candle called the shamash (shammes in Yiddish). On each night, one more candle is added and lit. During the lighting, people recite special blessings and prayers. Families play games, sing songs, and exchange gifts. Potato pancakes, known as latkes in Yiddish, are traditionally eaten with applesauce and sour cream during Hanukkah.
Crafts
Hanukkah Handprint Craft
Painted handprints combine to make a menorah shape.
Popsicle Stick Hanukkah Decoration
Popsicle sticks and glue are all you need for this craft. Use white glue — with some patience — or help out kids with a hot glue gun for faster results.
Painted Paper Menorah
Paint your unique, colorful design on paper; then cut it out and add blue painted candles. Paste onto a painted background to complete your layered paper menorah craft.
Paper Plate Star of David
Make this simple craft using a small paper plate, glittery yarn, glue, scissors and a hole punch.
Jewish Stick Symbols
Go on a nature walk and collect some sticks. Paint them with paint and glitter, wrap them with yarn, cover them with washi tape, whatever you want, and then glue them into Jewish symbols. Try a star of David, a dreidel or even a Hanukkiah.
Videos
The Story of Hanukkah
A 9 minute Learn Bright video that explains what Hanukkah means, how Hanukkah is celebrated, its origins and more.
Hanukkah History for Kids Read Aloud
A 6 minute Hanukkah history for kids Read Aloud by Storytime for Kids.
Twinkl Kids’ TV reads Dipal’s Diwali
A National Geographic slideshow with music background and script to read about Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights.
Games
The dreidel game is one of the most famous Hanukkah traditions. It was created as a way for Jews to study the Torah and learn Hebrew in secret after Greek King Antiochus IV had outlawed all Jewish religious worship in 175 BCE.
Today, dreidel is played as a way to celebrate a rich history and have fun with friends and family!