What Happens During The Hanukkah Celebration?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah,

religious rituals can include daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a special hymn.

What happens on the first day of Hanukkah?

The first night of Hanukkah,

Jews recite three blessings and two on the remaining days

. After lighting the menorah, Jews will sing Hanerot Halalu, a hymn with many variations across cultures. But the main theme consists of addressing the reasons for lighting the menorah and giving thanks and praise to God.

What is the thing for Hanukkah?

The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration is

the hanukkiah or menorah

, a candelabra that holds nine candles. … Families light one candle on the first day, two on the second (and so on) after sundown during the eight days of Hanukkah, while reciting prayers and singing songs.

What are 3 interesting facts about Hanukkah?

  • Hanukkah Isn't A Major Jewish . …
  • A Menorah Is Actually A “Hanukiah” …
  • 17.5 Million Donuts Are Eaten In Israel During Hannukah. …
  • The Dreidel Was Used As A Cover-Up For Studying The Torah. …
  • Gifts Are Only Given Because It's Close To Christmas.

What are the 3 Hanukkah blessings?

The traditional Hanukkah candle lighting service consists of saying all three blessings on the first night, and only the first and second blessings for the seven nights to follow. Transliteration:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

What do you say to someone on the first day of Hanukkah?

What is the proper greeting for Hanukkah? To wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, say

“Hanukkah Sameach!” (Happy Hanukkah)

or simply “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday). Or if you want to show off your Hebrew skills, say “Chag Urim Sameach!” (urim means “lights”).

How long does Hanukkah last 2020?

Year Hanukkah Begins Hanukkah Ends 2020 Thursday, December 10

Friday, December 18
2021 Sunday, November 28 Monday, December 6 2022 Sunday, December 18 Monday, December 26 2023 Thursday, December 7 Friday, December 15

What do the 8 days of Hanukkah stand for?

Hanukkah means

“dedication” in Hebrew

. The eight-day holiday celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after it was retaken by the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors, from the Greeks in the 2nd century BCE, as explained by Tablet magazine.

What are 5 facts about Hanukkah?

  • Don't worry about spelling Hannukah wrong. …
  • Hannukah celebrates a military victory and miracle. …
  • Hannukah is not the biggest Jewish holiday. …
  • Hannukah food isn't necessarily the healthiest. …
  • The letters on a Hannukah dreidel form an acronym. …
  • The dates of Hannukah change each year.

What are 2 facts about Hanukkah?

The word Hanukkah means “dedication.” The holiday commemorates the triumph of a band of rebel Jews known as the Maccabees in reclaiming their temple from the Greek-Syrians. 2

Hanukkah lasts for eight nights

, to commemorate how long the holy light burned. 3 A Menorah is lit each night of the holiday.

What are 3 traditions of Hanukkah?

Hanukkah Celebrations Lighting candles each night. Singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. Reciting the Hallel prayer. Eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt Begins 25 Kislev Ends 2 Tevet or 3 Tevet

What are the two Hanukkah prayers?



Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh

.” Translation: “Blessed are You, Lord our G‐d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.” On all other nights, only the first two prayers are said.

What to say while lighting the menorah?

Saying the Blessings


Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah

. Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

What do you say on the second day of Hanukkah?

The second, “

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh

,” translates to “Praised are you, our God, ruler of the universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.”

Is saying Happy Hanukkah appropriate?

Knowing how to say happy Hanukkah is important for anyone who enjoys sharing holiday greetings with friends, family members or colleagues. While the actual phrase

“Happy Hanukkah” is an appropriate greeting for the Jewish observance of Hanukkah

, it is not the only one.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.