The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is an eight-day festival of lights that is celebrated in November or December every year. The date changes because it is determined using the Hebrew calendar. The first day of Hanukkah always falls on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.

Hannukah means “dedication”. The festival celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, after it had been occupied by a Greek army.

Menorahs are lit in Jewish homes, synagogues and public places to commemorate this event. Menorahs are placed by doors and windows.

Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Two of the most popular foods are the latke, a potato cake, and sufganiyah, a sweet jelly doughnut.

At Hanukkah, children play a game with a small, four-sided top, called a dreidel, and chocolate money, or gelt.

This BBC video tells the story of Hanukkah.

Teaching Ideas and Resources

• Play dreidel, with the template and rules in our Hanukkah Teaching Pack.

• Try cooking your own latkes.
• Write an acrostic poem about Hanukkah.
• Choose another festival of lights, and make a list of similarities and differences.
• Write a list of ways that Hanukkah is celebrated.

Resources

Members of Teaching Packs have access to a wide range of resources to use during Hanukkah, and at many other times of the year. Join us here!

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