Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights with a mix of home rituals, prayers, special foods, games, and time with family and community. The central practice is lighting a special nine-branched candleholder each night to remember the ancient “miracle of the oil.”
Candle lighting
People light a hanukkiah (often called a Hanukkah menorah), which has eight branches plus a helper candle used to light the others. One candle is lit on the first night and an additional candle each night until all eight are burning on the last night.
Prayers and songs
Blessings are recited before lighting the candles, thanking God for the commandment of lighting and for the miracles associated with Hanukkah. Many families then sing traditional songs or hymns that talk about past deliverance and the theme of light in darkness.
Food traditions
A key custom is eating foods fried in oil, which recalls the oil that is said to have lasted eight days in the ancient Temple. Popular examples are potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly-filled doughnuts (sufganiyot).
Games and gifts
Children and adults often play dreidel, a spinning-top game where each side of the top tells you whether to put in or take out small tokens like coins or candy. Many families also give small gifts or chocolate “gelt” (coins), especially to children, on some or all of the nights.
Family and community
Hanukkah is usually celebrated at home but also in synagogues and public spaces with group candle lightings, songs, and parties. It is considered a joyful time to gather, remember the Hanukkah story, and “add light” to the dark winter season.
