On Chanukah, the Jewish people light Chanukah candles to remember the Maccabee victory and how the oil burnt for eight days in the holy Temple. This article examines 10 ways people celebrate the holiday in today’s society.
1. Light the Menorah:
Everyone is allowed to light the menorah. It should be lit outside the doorway and at the window after nightfall. You light the middle candle first and begin with the candles on the far right.
2. Games (Dreidel):
Kids enjoy playing games on Chanukah, especially with the dreidel (a top). Each side has acronyms which stand for Nes Gadol Haya Sham which means “A great miracle happened there.”
3. Chanukah Gelt:
Nothing beats Chanukah then Chanukah gelt. Many kids get candy, gifts and even money. It’s one holiday many kids look forward to.
4. Cooking:
Everything cooked should be done in oil. Latkes and donuts are the most popular. You cannot miss eating them. You would not be in the Chanukah spirit otherwise.
5. Crafts/Decorations:
Making crafts are also popular on the holiday. Decorating the home and creating the different crafts will bring up spirits. Kids particularly enjoy making gelt bags which are like stockings during Christmas.
6. Concerts:
If you are really in the Chanukah spirit, there are concerts and performances that you would be able
to go to. If you live in New York, there is a concert called The 8 Nights of Hannukah with Yo La Tengo.
7. Make Jokes:
This is a joyous holiday so jokes are appropriate. They make the festivities even more fun. As Jon Stewart once said,
“For those of you out there who are thinking about the Hanukkah-versus-Christmas thing, let me tell you this: Quite honestly—and this [comes from] an experiment with a two-and-a-half-year-old—Christmas blows the doors off of Hanukkah.”—Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, 2008
8. Festivals:
Just like there are pumpkin patch festivals in October, there are Chanukah festivals in December. They are good to visit, for those not in Christmas spirit or celebrating Christmas.
9. Spend time with family:
This is a holiday where you can spend time with family. Use the time wisely and maybe read a book about Chanukah, sing songs about the event or watch some movies.
10. Pray:
One must recite the blessings when lighting the candles. That is one spirit many forget to include.
Nice list. A lot of my coworkers are Jewish, so I’m trying to learn more about Chanukah this year. This was helpful for me.