Hanukkah Traditions

Updated 10/22/21

Hanukkah traditions in America include lighting a nine-branched menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiah. 

The word hanukkah means dedication. The Festival of Lights celebrates the rededicationof the holy Temple after the Greeks destroyed it, trying to force Greek cultures and beliefs on Jewish people.

Our hero of the story is Judah Maccabee, who led a small army against the Greeks and won the battle driving the Greeks from the land.

When they relit the menorah in the holy Temple, they found only a single container of ritually pure olive oil that normally would last one day, but this one lasted eight. The sages instituted the holiday of Chanukah to celebrate the miracle.

You add a new candle to the menorah for each of Chanukah's eight nights and light them after sundown. The ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”) is used to light the others. There are actually arguments about lighting all the candles on the first night or the last.

Blessings

From the 2nd century BCE to today, Jews recite blessings and display the menorah prominently in a window to share the miracle that inspired the holiday.

The Hanukkah blessings 

First:

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr kha-noo-kah

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Second:

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-ah-sah nee-sim lah-ah-voh-tay-noo bah-yah-mim hah-haym biz-mahn hah-zeh

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

Third blessing, recited only on the first night (or the first time lighting this Chanukah):

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Food

In another reference to the Hanukkah oil miracle, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) are eaten. 

Israeli and Sephardic Jews also make jelly-filled donuts (sufganiyot) during Chanukah.

Recipes

Jelly donuts by The Grapevine

Sweet Potato Latkes by Heather Christo

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

Other Hanukkah customs include playing with four-sided spinning tops called dreidels and exchanging gifts.

There are 4 Hebrew letters on the dreidel, spelling out “A miracle happened there.” (This is the Diaspora version. In Israel, it’s “A miracle happened here.)

Buy Handmade

In the U.S., Hanukkah has exploded into a major commercial phenomenon, largely because it falls near or overlaps with Christmas.

A new tradition I am encouraging is for women to wear handmade Hanukkah jewelry, either a necklace, bracelet and/or earrings or other artisan crafted Chanukah gifts to other women.

By supporting small businesses, you are helping artisans pay for gifts, supplies, groceries, car repairs, and contibute more to society. You're actually supporting a family, not huge retailers.

This is one of my last year's best selling Hanukkah charm bracelets.

Check out this Hanukkah song by Matisyahu. 

From a religious perspective, however, Chanukah is a relatively minor holiday that places no restrictions on working, attending school, or other activities. It'a a fun holiday!

Menorah Necklace

The First and Second Books of Maccabees contain the most detailed accounts of the battles of Judah Maccabee and his brothers to liberate Judea from foreign domination. These books include the earliest references to the story of Hanukkah and the rededication of the Temple.  Yet, these two books are missing from the Hebrew Bible.

What are your Hanukkah traditions or favorite memories? Post a comment so we can all share in the joy.