How to Celebrate Hanukkah
Eight nights beginning the 25th of Kislev (late November or December)
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after a small band of Jewish fighters known as the Maccabees drove out the Seleucid Greek forces that had defiled it in the second century BCE.
Tradition remembers a further miracle: when the Maccabees came to relight the Temple menorah, they found only a single day's worth of consecrated oil, yet it burned for eight days until more could be prepared. The eight nights of candle lighting recall that miracle, celebrating religious freedom and the endurance of a small people against long odds.
How It Is Celebrated
Lighting the hanukkiah
Each night an additional candle is lit on the nine-branched hanukkiah using the helper candle called the shamash. Candles are set from right to left but kindled newest first, so the number of flames grows from one to eight.
Placing the lights in the window
The menorah is traditionally displayed in a window or doorway to publicize the miracle, sharing the light with the street.
Playing dreidel
The four-sided top is marked with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hey, and shin, standing for the phrase a great miracle happened there. Players wager and win small pieces of chocolate gelt.
Giving gelt and gifts
Coins of real or chocolate money, called gelt, are shared with children, and many families exchange small gifts across the eight nights.
Traditional Foods
Potato latkes
Crisp fried potato pancakes served with applesauce or sour cream. Fried in oil to recall the miracle of the oil. See the recipe.
Sufganiyot
Jelly-filled donuts, another oil-fried treat central to the holiday table.
Chocolate gelt
Gold-foiled chocolate coins used in the dreidel game and given to children.
Greetings
Happy Hanukkah
The everyday English greeting, warm and welcome from anyone.
Chag Sameach
Happy holiday, the all-purpose Hebrew greeting for any festival.
Chag Urim Sameach
Happy Festival of Lights, a greeting specific to Hanukkah.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many candles are on a Hanukkah menorah?
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, holds nine candles: one for each of the eight nights plus the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others.
Why are fried foods eaten on Hanukkah?
Foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, recall the miracle of the small jar of oil that burned for eight days in the rededicated Temple.
When does Hanukkah start?
Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls in late November or December on the secular calendar, and lasts eight nights.
Keep Exploring
Read the full history and traditions in our Hanukkah holiday guide, browse traditional Jewish recipes, look up terms in the glossary, or see the dates on the Hebrew calendar.