Hanuka
Eight-night holiday
Hanuka is the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt.
Families light candles on a menorah, adding one each night, and exchange gifts.
The spelling varies widely—Hanukkah, Chanukah, and others—reflecting different transliterations from Hebrew: We're having latkes for Hanuka.
Jewish ceremonial lampstand
- candlesWax lights with wicks
- blessingsFavors from the divine
- prayersReverent petitions to deity
- dreidelHebrew-lettered spinning top
shamash · miracle · oil · Temple · rededication · Maccabees · latkes · gelt
Jewish ceremonial lampstand
- dreidelHebrew-lettered spinning top
- shamashMenorah's attendant flame
- candlesWax lights with wicks
- Star of DavidJewish religious emblem
blue · white · silver · flame · light · gelt · spinning top · nun
Fried shredded potato cakes
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
- friedCooked in hot fat
- potato pancakesFried shredded tuber patties
- doughnutsRing-shaped fried pastries
applesauce · sour cream · gelt · chocolate coins · brisket · kugel · rugelach · cheese
Items freely given
- familyRelated people together
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- songsMusical vocal compositions
- gamesOrganized competitive activities
dreidel · parties · decorations · cards · children · traditions · festivities · food
Judean revolt leaders
- JudahPatriarch and namesake tribe
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- JerusalemTriply sacred ancient capital
- TempleNamed religious structure
rededication · victory · resistance · liberation · Hellenism · desecration · altar · independence
menorah
Jewish ceremonial lampstand
dreidel · shamash · miracle · oil · Temple · rededication · Maccabees · latkes · gelt · eight nights
menorah
Jewish ceremonial lampstand
Star of David · blue · white · silver · flame · light · gelt · spinning top · nun · shin
latkes
Fried shredded potato cakes
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
- friedCooked in hot fat
- potato pancakesFried shredded tuber patties
doughnuts · applesauce · sour cream · gelt · chocolate coins · brisket · kugel · rugelach · cheese · dairy
gifts
Items freely given
games · dreidel · parties · decorations · cards · children · traditions · festivities · food · winter
Maccabees
Judean revolt leaders
- JudahPatriarch and namesake tribe
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- JerusalemTriply sacred ancient capital
Temple · rededication · victory · resistance · liberation · Hellenism · desecration · altar · independence · guerrilla
HanukaYom Kippur
Annual Jewish atonement observance
Rosh Hashanah · Passover · Shavuot · Sukkot · Shabbat
- happy HanukkahJewish winter festival greeting
- Hanukkah traditionsCustoms of the eight-day festival
- Hanukkah candlesRitual flames for December holiday
- Hanukkah lightsCeremonial winter festival candles
- Hanukkah dinnerMeal during Festival of Lights
- Hanukkah cardSeasonal Jewish greeting paper