Hanukkah

Customs & Symbols

Customs

• Lighting the Hanukkah menorah for eight nights
  
• Adding one light each evening
  
• Reciting blessings over the lights
  
• Placing the lights where they can be seen
  
• Singing Hanukkah songs
  
• Playing dreidel
  
• Giving Hanukkah gelt
  
• Giving gifts in many modern communities
  
• Eating foods fried in oil
  
• Gathering with family and community

Symbols

• Hanukkah menorah or hanukkiah
  
• Eight festival lights
  
• Shamash
  
• Dreidel
  
• Oil
  
• Hanukkah gelt
  
• The Jerusalem Temple