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Hanukkah with the family: traditions, food and the eight nights

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a joyful eight-night celebration full of light, food, games and togetherness. This is a warm, general guide to celebrating it as a family and sharing it with children. Families observe in their own ways according to their traditions and beliefs.

The heart of it: the menorah and the eight nights

At the centre of Hanukkah is the lighting of the menorah (also called a hanukkiah) over eight nights, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a small amount of oil that lasted eight days. Each night, another candle is lit using the helper candle (the shamash), building from one light on the first night to all eight by the last — a beautiful, growing glow that gives the festival its rhythm and meaning. The nightly candle-lighting, often accompanied by blessings and songs, is a lovely ritual to share as a family, and children especially treasure watching the light grow night by night. Pairing the candle-lighting with a moment of reflection — our free eight nights of gratitude sheet is one gentle way — adds warmth and meaning beyond the gifts. Our free countdown helps build anticipation through the festival.

Games, food and family traditions

Beyond the menorah, Hanukkah is full of joyful traditions the whole family can share. The dreidel game — a spinning top played for gelt (chocolate coins) or small treats — is a Hanukkah classic that children adore; our free dreidel game card helps you play. Food is central too: latkes (crispy potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam doughnuts), both fried in oil, symbolise the miracle at the heart of the festival, and cooking them together is a lovely family activity — our free latke recipe card helps you keep the family recipe. Giving gelt or small gifts, singing songs, and decorating the home are all part of the warmth of the season. Our free kids' activity pack and party planner help bring it all together for a joyful celebration.

Sharing the meaning with children

What children remember most from Hanukkah is the warmth, the light, and the togetherness — and there are lovely ways to help them connect with the story and values behind the festival, not just the games and gifts. Talking together, in age-appropriate ways, about the story of the rededication of the Temple and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days helps children understand what they're celebrating. Involving them in every part — lighting candles, playing the dreidel game, helping cook, making decorations and cards — builds a sense of belonging and anticipation that becomes treasured family tradition. Many families also use the eight nights to reflect on gratitude, give to charity (tzedakah), or do small acts of kindness, weaving the deeper meaning of light and hope into the celebration alongside the fun. Building these traditions — the things your family does every Hanukkah — gives children a comforting sense of continuity and something to look forward to year after year. Tailor everything to your own family's customs and your children's ages. Chag Sameach — Happy Hanukkah!

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Frequently asked questions

What happens on each night of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is celebrated over eight nights, and the central ritual each night is lighting the menorah (hanukkiah) — a candelabra with spaces for eight candles plus a ninth, the shamash or helper candle, which is used to light the others. On the first night, one candle is lit; on the second, two; and so on, adding one more candle each night until all eight are lit on the final night, building a beautiful growing glow that symbolises the festival's central miracle (the small amount of oil that was only meant to last one day but lasted eight). The candle-lighting is usually accompanied by blessings and often songs, and many families make it a daily gathering point — pausing together each evening, regardless of how busy the day's been. Beyond the candles, the nights are often filled with other traditions: playing the dreidel game for gelt or treats, eating oil-fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot, giving small gifts or gelt to children, and spending time together as a family. Some families add their own rituals to the nights, like a gratitude reflection, a book or story, or a specific treat each evening. There's no single 'correct' way to fill the eight nights beyond the central candle-lighting — families build their own treasured traditions around it according to their customs. Chag Sameach!
What is the meaning behind Hanukkah?
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its recapture by the Maccabees, and centres on the story of the miracle of the oil: when the Temple was reclaimed, there was only enough purified oil to keep the Temple's menorah burning for one day, but it miraculously lasted eight days — the time needed to prepare more. This is why the festival lasts eight nights and why lighting candles (and eating foods fried in oil, like latkes and sufganiyot) are so central to the celebration. Beyond the historical and religious story, Hanukkah carries themes that resonate widely: the triumph of light over darkness, the power of hope and faith even in difficult circumstances, and gratitude for unexpected blessings. For many families, sharing the story with children — in age-appropriate ways — helps them understand the meaning behind the candles, the games and the food, rather than experiencing the festival as simply presents and treats. Some families also use the eight nights to emphasise giving and kindness (tzedakah, or charity, is an important Jewish value) alongside the festivities, weaving the deeper meaning of light, hope and gratitude into the celebration. As with all family traditions, how the story and meaning are shared varies from family to family, shaped by your own customs and beliefs.