Hanukkah
Though Hanukkah is technically a minor festival, it is one of the most well-known Jewish holidays because it takes place in the traditional "holiday season"-- December. Though stores can get filled up with so many Christmas decorations that it's nearly impossible to find a single dreidel, we have all your Hanukkah needs covered. Whether you are looking to switch over to an electric menorah or you need supplies for a festive feast with your family, we have everything you'll need for all eight nights.
Menorahs
A Hanukkah menorah has eight branches on it to represent the miracle of the oil. During the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid monarchy, the Jews found only enough oil to light the Temple menorah for one day, but by some marvel, the supply lasted eight days. On each night of the festival, a new candle is lit until finally, all eight (plus the shamash, used to light all the others) are lit.
Menorah Supplies
You can't very well have a menorah without a light source, can you? Whether you go by tradition and light candles or embrace modern technology with electric bulbs, you can find all the supplies you need right here.
Dreidels
A dreidel is one of the best loved symbols of the Festival of Lights. It is a four-sided top that is spun in an effort to win prizes: usually pennies or chocolate coins. To play this game, deal an equal amount of prizes (start with 10 or 15) out to each participant. At the beginning of each round, each person antes up by putting one game piece into the centre (the "pot"). Each time the pot is empty, everyone antes up again.
Once everyone has dealt in, the first player spins the dreidel and waits for it to stop. He or she then reads what is written and takes the appropriate action. The key below lists the different characters and their meanings.
- Nun: The player does nothing.
- Gimmel: The player gets everything in the pot. Well played!
- Hey: The player gets half of the pieces in the pot.
- Shin (or peh): The player has to add a piece to the pot.
The game continues until someone has collected all the prizes. Good luck and have fun!
Food
Holidays are usually known for lots of delicious food, and Hanukkah is no exception! For more recipe ideas, see our External Links section.
Festive Table
A beautiful table sets the tone for a lovely evening.
Music
Liven things up with some of your favourite tunes!
Related Guides
External Links
