Explore the Customs That Make Hanukkah Special!
Hanukkah is a time of joy, celebration, and tradition for Jewish families around the world. While most people are familiar with lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and eating latkes, there are many lesser-known customs and traditions that make this festival truly unique. From the special foods to the significance behind each night of lighting the menorah, these traditions bring families together and create a meaningful connection to history.
Let’s dive into some of the lesser-known Hanukkah traditions that you might not know about, adding a deeper understanding to this beautiful festival of lights.
1. The “Chag Sameach” Greeting
- What’s the Tradition: While “Happy Hanukkah” is widely known, Chag Sameach (pronounced “khahg sah-MEE-akh”) is a more formal Hebrew greeting that means “Happy Festival!”
- Why It’s Special: This greeting is often used during holidays and festivals like Hanukkah, helping to elevate the celebration’s spiritual tone and reflect the joy of the occasion.
2. The Special Blessing of the Oil
- What’s the Tradition: While most people know about the miracle of the oil, some families also have the tradition of blessing the oil each night before lighting the menorah. This can involve blessing olive oil or any oil used in the menorah.
- Why It’s Special: The oil symbolizes purity and the miracle of light, bringing spiritual significance to the lighting ritual. Some families will use a separate blessing that recognizes the miracle of the oil and its long-lasting light.
3. The Spinning Dreidel Game
- What’s the Tradition: While dreidel is a popular game during Hanukkah, many people don’t know that the letters on the dreidel (Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin) represent the Hebrew phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham,” meaning “A great miracle happened there.”
- Why It’s Special: The dreidel game, often played with gelt, is a fun way for children to engage with the holiday’s story, and each spin reinforces the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.
4. The “Shamash” Candleholder
- What’s the Tradition: The Shamash is the central candle in the menorah, which is used to light the other candles. What many people don’t realize is that the Shamash is sometimes placed higher than the other candles or in a separate holder to distinguish it as the one that gives light to the others.
- Why It’s Special: The Shamash represents the servant or helper, reminding us that even light needs a guide. It’s a unique symbol of humility and service.
5. The Hanukkah Heroic Figures
- What’s the Tradition: While Judah Maccabee is the most famous figure of Hanukkah, some Jewish families include stories and songs about lesser-known figures from the Maccabean Revolt, such as Judah’s brothers and Miriam, the sister of the Maccabee leaders.
- Why It’s Special: These figures are sometimes honored with prayers or additional teachings during the holiday to emphasize the strength of community and the role everyone plays in the fight for freedom and justice.
6. Hanukkah Candle Lighting and Blessings
- What’s the Tradition: In some households, families perform the blessings in a specific order and often with special personal adaptations. The blessing over the candles, Shehechiyanu, is sometimes recited with additional family-specific prayers or wishes.
- Why It’s Special: This tradition is a way for families to personalize their Hanukkah celebrations, creating a deeper connection to the holiday and its rich meaning.
7. The “Kislev” Month and “Hannukah Gelt”
- What’s the Tradition: The Hebrew month of Kislev is the one in which Hanukkah falls, and some families celebrate the entire month with acts of kindness, reflecting on the themes of light and miracles.
- Why It’s Special: Besides the famous Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins) given to children, the act of giving gelt is also a symbol of generosity and gratitude, harking back to the practice of giving charity during the holiday season.
8. The Hanukkah Pizzas
- What’s the Tradition: In some Jewish communities, especially in the United States, it’s a growing tradition to eat pizza during Hanukkah as a modern take on the holiday’s foods, particularly in homes where frying foods like latkes isn’t practical.
- Why It’s Special: This contemporary tradition brings a fun, creative twist to the typical meals of latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) while keeping the spirit of food and togetherness alive.
Did You Know? The lighting of the menorah is a reminder of the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, but in some traditions, each candle is lit with a different blessing, highlighting specific aspects of the Hanukkah story, such as redemption and miracles.
A Little History: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt, around 165 BCE.
Over time, various traditions evolved, blending cultural practices with religious observances. While some customs date back centuries, others emerged in more recent history, particularly in places like Eastern Europe and America.
Today, Hanukkah is celebrated with a rich variety of customs, each adding to the holiday’s significance, while maintaining a connection to the ancient miracle of the oil.
