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Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights that typically takes place between late November and late December. Jews celebrate it by lighting the menorah, playing the game of dreidel and eating special holiday foods like latkes and sufganiyot.
What do you do during Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah, religious rituals can include daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a special hymn.
What is Hanukkah and how is it celebrated?
Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.
What do u do on each day of Hanukkah?
Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shammash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival. Other Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods.
What do you do on the first day of Hanukkah?
The first night of Hanukkah, Jews recite three blessings and two on the remaining days. After lighting the menorah, Jews will sing Hanerot Halalu, a hymn with many variations across cultures. But the main theme consists of addressing the reasons for lighting the menorah and giving thanks and praise to God.
What are 5 traditions of Hanukkah?
Celebrate the festival of lights and stick to Hanukkah traditions to show your appreciation for the holiday. Take part in Chanukah traditions such as lighting the menorah, playing the dreidel game, eating gelt, cooking and baking delicious food, and enjoying the fun of Hanukkah gifts.
What do the 7 candles of Hanukkah mean?
The seven lamps depict the branches of human knowledge that are represented by six lamps inclined inwards towards, guided by, the light of God which is represented by the central lamp. The menorah also symbolises the creation in seven days, centre light representing the Sabbath.
Is Hanukkah like Christmas?
The Festival of Lights. The “Jewish Christmas.” The holiday that Adam Sandler wrote a song about. To Jewish people, however, Hanukkah isn’t actually all that religious of a holiday –though because of its proximity to Christmas, it’s often assumed the most important Jewish holiday. It’s not.
What are 3 interesting facts about Hanukkah?
Hanukkah: 8 facts to know about the holiday, from the menorah oil to the history and food Hanukkah lasts for eight nights to commemorate how long the holy light burned. A menorah is lit each night of the holiday. The word ‘Hanukkah’ means ‘dedication’ The many spellings. The dreidel is based on a German gambling game.
What gifts are given during Hanukkah?
Keep it Traditional Traditional Hanukkah gifts such as gelt, or “coins” are often given during the Festival of Lights. Menorahs, dreidels, and candles come readily to mind, too. If you’re looking for something traditional that isn’t quite so personal, consider practical items for the home.
What do you eat on Hanukkah?
Hanukkah Foods Brisket. Brisket is enjoyed during many Jewish holidays besides Hanukkah, such as Rosh Hashanah and Passover. Latkes. Latkes, also known as potato pancakes, are made from shallow-fried shredded or mashed potatoes. Kugel. Sufganiyot. Hanukkah Gelt.
Do you get gifts during Hanukkah?
Why do you give gifts at Hanukkah? Hanukkah gift-giving is an American tradition. Whereas Hanukkah is celebrated around the world with the lighting of the menorah candles on 8 consecutive nights, feasting on latkes, and spinning dreidels, American Jews added gift-giving to the equation to make it more fun.
Do Jews say amen?
In Judaism, congregants say amen in response to the words of the rabbi, or spiritual leader. The term appears as part of a number Jewish prayers.
How do you respond to Shalom?
One such word is shalom, which, in everyday usage, can mean either “hello” or “goodbye.” The traditional greeting among Jews is shalom aleichem, peace unto you; to which the response is aleichem shalom, to you, peace.
What do you say on Hanukkah?
You can wish someone a happy Hanukkah by saying chag sameach, which is pronounced [ khag sah–meh-ahkh ]. This expression means “happy holiday.” If you want to make it a bit more Hanukkah-specific, you can say chag Hanukkah sameach, pronounced [ khag khah-nuh-kuh sah–meh-ahkh ], instead.
What do families do on Hanukkah?
Many modern Jewish families celebrate by lighting the hanukkiah. One candle per night of Hanukkah is lit, like Hebrew is read, from right to left. People might also play dreidel games and eat certain foods like sufganiyot (similar to jelly donuts) and latkes (fried potato pancakes).
What do the 8 candles of Hanukkah mean?
The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration is the hanukkiah or menorah, a candelabra that holds nine candles. Eight candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others.
What event does Hanukkah celebrate?
Hanukkah, which means “dedication,” commemorates the miracle of light that occurred when Judah rededicated the Temple to the Hebrew god. According to the Talmud (one of Judaism’s holy texts), the Seleucids left only one intact vial of oil, just enough to light the Temple’s candelabrum for one day.
Why are donuts a symbol of Hanukkah?
It’s said that the fried treats are a good fit for a holiday focused on oil, commemorating the miracle of one night of oil lasting for eight. The word sufganiyot can be traced back to the Greek word sufan, meaning “spongy” or “fried,” as can the Arabic word for a smaller, deep-fried doughnut named sfenj.
How long is Hanukkah celebrated for?
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days every year. Normally it occurs between late November and December, although the exact dates change every year. This is because Hanukkah is always on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar.
