Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and commemorates the miracle of the menorah burning bright. Today, over two thousand years later, families enjoy this celebration by giving gifts and enjoying the holiday together.
Learn more information about how Hanukkah is celebrated today. You can learn how find Hanukkah songs to sing with your family, how to make a dreidel and play the eponymous game, how to make latkes (potato pancakes), and how to find a menorah.
Children often receive eight presents, one for each night of the holiday. Adults are seldom so lucky, but you can find out how to find the perfect present for your friends and family members, how to navigate the tricky balance between holiday gifts and office politics, how to make gift giving environmentally responsible, and how to give memorable cards and presents without putting too much stress on your wallet. In the spirit of the holiday season, you can also find out how read about how best to give to those in need, as well as how to send presents to active duty soldiers.
Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, but its celebration has grown in response to the ever present Christmas season. You can read about how Hanukkah traditions have changed over the years, how people navigate the holiday season as a minority culture, and how to respectfully celebrate the holiday season in a professional environment.
The timing of Hanukkah is based on the lunar calendar, so its exact beginning and ending dates change each year. However, the traditions and celebrations of the holiday remain the same. You may not be able to keep your menorah aflame for eight days with just a single day’s worth of oil, as the Maccabees did, but you can continue the ancient rituals and customs of this beautiful holiday.
