Celebrating Hanukkah: A Festival of Light, Joy, and Tradition

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Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a celebration of resilience, miracles, and light in the darkest time of the year. For eight nights, families around the world gather to light candles, enjoy traditional foods, play games, and reflect on the ancient story of the rededication of the Holy Temple.

Whether your family has deep roots in the Jewish faith or you’re learning about Hanukkah for the first time, this guide will help you celebrate meaningfully with up-to-date traditions, 2025 dates, family tips, and local Hanukkah events across the Triad.

What is Hanukkah and why is it celebrated?

Hanukkah is a vibrant and meaningful Jewish festival celebrated worldwide. The word “Hanukkah” originates from the Hebrew word for dedication, highlighting the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the festival’s historical events. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil and light, which is rooted in the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. After the Temple was desecrated, the Maccabees found only a small amount of pure oil to light the menorah, enough for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until a new supply was obtained. Hanukkah celebrates this miracle by lighting the menorah over eight nights, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and the resilience of the Jewish people.

Hanukkah 2025 Dates & Overview

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Sunday, December 14 and ends on the evening of Monday, December 22, 2025.
Each night, an additional candle is lit on the menorah (or hanukkiah), symbolizing the miracle of a single jar of oil that lasted eight days.

How to Celebrate Hanukkah at Home

Candle Lighting Basics

The lighting of the menorah is a central Hanukkah tradition. How to Light the Menorah a Step-by-step Guide:

  • Light candles after sundown, adding one candle each night from right to left.

  • Use the shamash (helper candle) to light the others from left to right.

  • While you light the candles, you’ll also say a special blessing. For more information, here’s a helpful guide. By the eighth night, all candles are illuminated. Display your menorah in the window to share the light of Hanukkah with the world.

  • Involving Kids in the Lighting Ceremony: Encourage children to actively participate by assigning them the task of lighting the Shamash or helping arrange the candles. This involvement fosters a sense of tradition and responsibility.

Traditional Hanukkah Foods

Why fried foods? They commemorate the miracle of the oil! Recipes for Kids: Engage children in the kitchen by making simple, festive treats like stained-glass cookies in festive shapes or making yummy latkes. Check out this resource for recipes and more ideas.

Common dishes include:

  • Latkes (potato pancakes) with applesauce or sour cream

  • Sufganiyot (jelly-filled donuts)

  • Brisket, kugel, matzah ball soup, and chocolate gelt

Looking for an easy kid-friendly latke recipe? Try baking mini latke cups in muffin tins for a cleaner twist!

Games & Activities for Kids

  • Playing Dreidels: The spinning of the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, is a popular Hanukkah game. Each side of the dreidel bears a Hebrew letter: Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin, forming the acronym for “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham,” which translates to “a great miracle happened there.” Players use candies, nuts, or chocolate coins (gelt) as game pieces.

  • Make paper menorahs, felt dreidels, or homemade sufganiyot.

  • Sing Hanukkah songs like “Maoz Tzur” or the Ladino favorite Ocho Kandelikas.

Symbols of Hanukkah: What They Mean

  • Traditional Hanukkah Colors and Decorations: Blue, white, and silver are traditional Hanukkah colors.
  • Stars of David

  • Menorah (Hanukkiah): 9-branched candelabrum — 8 candles for 8 nights, and 1 shamash (helper) candle.

  • Dreidel: A spinning top with four Hebrew letters: נ (nun), ג (gimel), ה (hey), ש (shin) — “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” — “A Great Miracle Happened There.”

  • Gelt: Chocolate coins symbolizing the ancient tradition of giving money during Hanukkah.

  • Oil & Light: The miracle that inspired the entire celebration.

Dress the Part

Kids love wearing Hanukkah pajamas or holiday-themed blue and silver outfits for candle lighting photos and family fun.

Hanukkah Crafts and DIY Decorations

  • Engaging Craft Ideas: Engage kids in age-appropriate crafts to enhance their connection to the holiday. Check out these fun ideas below.
  • Spreading Kindness: The Tradition of Giving:
    • Teaching Tzedakah: Use Hanukkah as an opportunity to teach children about Tzedakah, the Jewish tradition of charity and righteousness. Encourage them to donate to a cause or participate in acts of kindness throughout the festival.
    • Simple Acts of Kindness: Create a family “kindness calendar” for the duration of Hanukkah with daily suggestions for spreading joy, whether it’s helping a neighbor, volunteering, or writing letters to loved ones.

Hanukkah Books and Stories

Hanukkah

Local Hanukkah Events in the Triad (2025)

Looking to celebrate Hanukkah in community? The Triad offers several public events:

Greensboro

Winston-Salem

We’ll update our Holiday Event Calendar with confirmed 2025 events as they are announced.

Hanukkah is a time for reflection, joy, and togetherness. By incorporating these traditions, activities, and local resources, families can create lasting memories during this Festival of Lights.

B’nai Shalom Day School is a Jewish Day School located in Greensboro, NC. With approximately 140 students between the ages of 8 weeks to 8th grade, B’nai Shalom fosters curiosity, critical-thinking, confidence, and connection to Jewish values through its individualized approach to learning. Interested in learning more? Contact Katelyn Cohen-Kivett, Director of Admissions & Marketing at kkivett@bnai-shalom.org.

Written by Guest Blogger Katelyn Cohen-Kivett updated by Sarah Marchwiany

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Interfaith & Inclusive Ideas

Hanukkah is a beautiful opportunity to teach tolerance, diversity, and shared values. Ideas for interfaith families:

  • Create a combined holiday calendar or winter celebration chart

  • Invite friends to light the menorah with you

  • Make both latkes and Christmas cookies for your celebration table!

Related Holiday Resources on Triad Moms on Main

Other Hanukkah Blogs you Might Like: 

A Light Inclusive Hanukkah

Easy Baked Sufganiyot & Other Hanukkah Traditions

A Sharing of Hanukkah Prayers, Traditions, and Recipes

Celebrating Hanukkah from Jerusalem to Greensboro

Our Holiday Tree: A Celebration of Blended Faiths and New Traditions

Q: What are the dates of Hanukkah 2025?
A: Hanukkah 2025 begins the evening of Sunday, December 14 and ends the evening of Monday, December 22.

Q: What do you do to celebrate Hanukkah?
A: Families light a menorah for eight nights, eat foods fried in oil like latkes, play dreidel, and exchange small gifts.

Q: Why is Hanukkah celebrated?
A: It commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight nights.

Q: What does each night of Hanukkah mean?
A: Each night represents part of the miracle and adds another candle to the menorah. It symbolizes hope, light, and perseverance.

Q: Where can I find Hanukkah events in the Triad?
A: Events are hosted by local synagogues, JCCs, and libraries. Check our updated holiday calendar or local Jewish organizations’ sites.

Final Thoughts

Hanukkah is a time to reflect, rejoice, and celebrate miracles — both ancient and personal. Whether you’re honoring centuries-old traditions or discovering them for the first time, let this Festival of Lights fill your home with warmth, light, and meaning.