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Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights, and whether your family celebrates it or not, it’s worthwhile to take some time this holiday season to educate your child about this historic tradition. It’s a joyous, celebratory occasion marking a united people’s triumph over religious oppression.
If your household celebrates Hanukkah, you’ll love all the recipe, book, craft, and activity recommendations below. They’ll keep your little ones engaged and entertained throughout the holiday season.
If you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, take advantage of these resources to teach your child about the traditions of other cultures, while still having fun! Broadening your child’s understanding of holiday traditions is a great way to start preparing them for life in an increasingly diverse world.
Hanukkah Fun Facts to Teach Your Kids
• Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew.
• The festival of Hanukkah is a remembrance of the re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem.
• In about 198 B.C., Jerusalem and its temple were taken over by invaders from the Seleucid Kingdom in Syria.
• A man named Judas Maccabeus led a successful uprising against the leader of the Seleucids, Antiochus, in 194 B.C.
• The Talmud, a Jewish holy book, states that when Judas and his followers entered the temple, there was only enough oil to burn for one night. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight nights, which is why the festival of Hanukkah lasts 8 nights.
• Religious observances during Hanukkah include daily prayer and reading of scripture and reciting blessings as a new candle on the menorah (a special branched candlestick) is lit on each of the eight nights.
• Non-religious Hanukkah activities include eating oil-fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot (donuts) to commemorate the miracle of the oil in the temple. Kids and adults alike also enjoy spinning a top called a dreidel to win chocolate coins known as gelt.
Hanukkah Recipes to Make at Home
One of the best ways to bond over your holiday traditions or expose your child to other cultures is through food! Kids are incredibly food-motivated—heck, so are adults-- so they’ll be more likely to remember lessons taught in the kitchen, reinforced with a corresponding treat. Kids also get a ton of mental, physical, and emotional benefits from spending time in the kitchen. So, grab a spatula and go to town on these traditional fried Hanukkah goodies!
Latkes
First things first, you’ve got to have latkes. These fluffy, fried potato pancakes are a well-beloved staple of Hanukkah celebrations around the world! Serve them with applesauce and sour cream for a tasty Hanukkah treat.
To learn how to make the perfect latkes at home with your child, join Robert and Mimi from the Miami Children’s Museum in this educational and informative video how-to guide.
Sufganiyot
For a sweet Hanukkah treat, try some sugary sufganiyot. Sufganiyot are like a cross between a beignet and a jelly donut, and if that isn’t enough to entice you, this simple recipe video from Cooking with Kids will convince you to make a batch at home with your child.
Menorah-dorable Hanukkah Arts and Crafts for Kids
Spending time at the arts and crafts table with kids is another excellent way to keep things festive and educational, at the same time! Kids will love these Hanukkah crafts so much that they won’t even notice they’re improving their fine motor skills and giving their creative thinking skills a workout.
Menorah Crafts for Kids
The menorah is what gives Hanukkah the name “festival of lights”. It symbolizes the miraculous burning of the oil for eight days in the temple. Therefore, it’s an extremely important hallmark of the holiday. While none of these menorah crafts are fully functional, they’re still super fun to make, decorate, and play with!
Paper Plate Menorah Craft
Photo Credit: Nurture Store
This attractive menorah craft from Nurture Store comes headache-free with printable candles. All you have to do is halve a paper plate, then paint and glue away. This craft makes a precious, handmade addition to your Hanukkah décor, as it’s easy to hang and display anywhere.
Handprint Menorah Craft
Photo Credit: Alpha Mom
Capturing your child’s handprint is always a great way to take a snapshot of their development where it is today. Handprint crafts last throughout the years to remind us of how much our child has learned and grown. That’s why this menorah craft from Alpha Mom doubles as a time capsule.
Dreidel Crafts for Kids
Dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game for kids and adults to enjoy. It involves spinning a top marked with four Hebrew letters. Based on where the top lands, players gain or lose a certain amount of gelt (usually chocolate coins). It’s the trademark pastime of Hanukkah, so enjoy honoring it with these charming dreidel-themed crafts this year!
Felt Dreidel Banner
Photo Credit: She Knows
This simple and elegant Hanukkah decoration comes courtesy of She Knows. It’s easy to make with kids of any age and gives the house a festive atmosphere!
Watercolor Dreidels
Photo Credit: Creative Jewish Mom
These colorful paper dreidels from Creative Jewish Mom may not be operational, but they’re thoroughly ornamental and eye-catching! Painting with watercolors is a great way for kids of all ages to explore color and how it mixes and blends.
Star of David Crafts for Kids
The Star of David consists of a shape called a hexagram, which is made by two opposite-facing equilateral triangles on top of each other. A hexagram is also an ancient symbol used across many cultures, but when referred to as the Star of David, it is a universal symbol of the Jewish people. These crafts feature The Star of David in creative and exciting ways!
Paper Plate Star of David Ornament
Photo Credit: Makes and Takes
Makes and Takes provides us with this easy and fun craft which not only teaches your child how to form a Star of David in yarn, but also enhances their fine motor skills with all that threading practice!
Star of David Tissue Paper Suncatcher
Photo Credit: Craft Project Ideas
Your windows will be aglow with Hanukkah cheer when you hang up these adorable suncatchers in the shape of the Star of David. Check out the full instructions at Craft Project Ideas.
WONDRFLY BONUS: SUPER SIMPLE DIY DREIDEL
Don’t have a dreidel at home? Check out these instructions from Wondrfly on how to craft a super simple DIY dreidel in minutes!
For instructions on how to play, watch this video from Everyday Jewish Mom!
Here’s hoping these crafts and recipes make your Hanukkah celebration even brighter or help you to educate your child on what Hanukkah means to so many people all over the world! Best holiday wishes to all from Wondrfly!
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