How to Celebrate Hanukkah

Hanukkah commemorates the battle to rededicate the Temple of Jerusalem and the miracle in which, according to tradition, a tiny bit of oil burned for eight days. Here's how to celebrate this Jewish holiday.

Step 1: Get a menorah
Find a menorah, a candelabra with nine candleholders, one of which is set apart for the shamash, a candle used to light the others. Place it in a street-facing window to fulfill the commandment of publicizing the miracle.

Step 2: Light the candles
On the first night, place one candle in the farthest right holder and light it with the shamash. On the next night, add a second candle to the left of the first one, lighting the newest one first. Continue for the next six nights for a total of eight.

Tip
On Friday nights, light the Hanukkah candles before the Shabbat candles. On Saturdays, light them after havdalah, the ceremony that ends Shabbat.

Step 3: Recite blessings
As you light the candles, recite the two Hanukkah blessings. Afterward, sing Hanerot Halalu, which praises the defense of the Temple.

Tip
On the first night, add a third blessing to commemorate having lived to celebrate the holiday again.

Step 4: Play dreidel
Spin a dreidel, one of the holiday's most recognized symbols; the letters on its side are the initials of a phrase that commemorates the Hanukkah miracle.

Step 5: Fry it up
Cook and eat foods fried in oil to further reference the ancient miracle. Try making latkes, or potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, Israel's version of the jelly donut.

Step 6: Exchange gifts
Give presents to other people who celebrate Hanukkah. Then sit together, gaze at the candles, and reflect on the festival of lights.

Did You Know?
The tradition of having a menorah on the White House lawn began in 1979.

[marydelucia]

honestly, Hanukkah is my favorite holiday. i love spending time with my family, lighting the menorah (even though my little sister almost got burnt), praying, and eating

[LaSaksxalmo]

Non-Christians celebrate Christmas.

My first Hanukkah is this year, and I'm excited. :)

[troy]

the true miracle of chanukah is finding candles that fit the tiny holes in the menorah

[gibbs]

Here in America, my Jewish friends have always treated me good, even though I have seen them gone through racism by other groups of people. As I’m writing this it’s winter of 2019 and I will be celebrating Hanukkah for the first time. 🇮🇱

[gracemiller]

I recently converted my family doesn’t really believe me when I say I’m Jewish I try my best to clebrate the holidays as much as I can sadly no one celebrates with me but I make the most of it 😁

[kelvinshiang]

It's a really great holiday and I like it a lot. I'm not Jewish but I know a lot of people that are Jewish and I celebrate it with them.

[CNorthrop]

I really like this video! Thank you to all who participated and posted! I love the Jewish people and I love Jesus!! I love all of the Jewish holidays and have learned about them so I can give honor to God with them!!

Hanukkah is the #1 holiday in America!!!
When I think of it, I think of lighting the menorah, spinning dreidels and receiving
tons of gifts.

[timtim]

I wanna do this. Sounds like a good change from Christmas

[catwitch]

A lot of people make fun of and insult the Jewish, but even though I'm not part of the religion, and also my family happens to be German-Christian, I think Hanukkah is a beautiful festival of remembrance and respect and I wish there wouldn't be so much anti-semitism in the world. Bless the Jewish and all those who suffer from prejudice xx

[nagalaxmikotthapalli]

Happy hanukah iam novaide in India shalom...

[sijihaufmann]

well when you put it that way its not fun anymore!! all you have to do for hanukkah is celebrate and remember why your celebrating! happy chanukkah everybody!!

[az]

كويتي بحق ! الله يسعدكم ويكثر افراحكم شكرا

[applebottomjeans]

“Place it in a street-facing window” *places it in a window facing a bush*

[adamstern]

what you said is a hannukia not a menora, yes you need a hannukia with nine candles.but a menora has only 7.

[alexismaddie__]

I like to research about other religions other then my own (duh) and this video was interesting to learn about the Jewish traditions. Thanks!

[MinxLaura]

this was great. i am jewish girl in the uk x

[berbearberbear]

very helpful, but a bit confusing. im not jewish but i find the religion very facinating. Is celebrating Hanukkah actully this hard? or do they make it seem complicated....

[sz..]

I’m Jewish, my family tradition is that we reuse the shamash for he eight days

[lastcall]

seems more substantial than pagan Christmas trees, Santa and rudolph. God bless the jewish.