Hanukkah Activities for Kids

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, lasts eight nights and is filled with candles, games, songs and delicious fried foods. These activities help children learn about Hanukkah's story and traditions with crafts, dreidel games and simple cooking, for ages 3 to 11.

When is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah follows the Hebrew calendar and begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev. On the regular calendar, it usually falls in late November or December, and the dates change each year.

The story of Hanukkah

More than 2,000 years ago, a small group called the Maccabees won back the Temple in Jerusalem. They wanted to light the Temple's menorah, but found only enough pure oil to last one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. That's why Hanukkah lasts eight nights and why candles are lit each evening.

Hanukkah traditions

• Lighting the menorah (hanukkiah). One candle is added each night, lit by a helper candle called the shamash, until all eight are lit.
• Playing dreidel, a spinning top game.
• Eating fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam doughnuts) to remember the oil.
• Gelt, chocolate or real coins, given to children.
• Songs and family gatherings.

How to play dreidel

A dreidel has four sides with Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin. (In Israel, Shin is replaced by Pe.)

1. Everyone starts with the same number of tokens (chocolate coins, buttons or raisins) and puts one in the middle.
2. Take turns spinning the dreidel.
3. Nun: nothing happens. Gimel: take everything in the middle. Hey: take half. Shin: put one token in.
4. When the middle is empty, everyone adds one token again.

The letters stand for a Hebrew phrase meaning "A great miracle happened there."

Crafts

1. Paper menorah. Color our menorah pages and add tissue-paper flames, one each night.
2. Paper dreidel. Color and fold a dreidel template, then push a pencil through to spin it.
3. Star of David. Glue lolly sticks into two triangles to make a six-pointed star and decorate it.
4. Handprint menorah. Paint both hands and press them side by side with the thumbs overlapping, making nine "candles."
5. Hanukkah cards. Color a greeting card with a menorah, dreidel or star.
6. Blue and white garland. Cut out stars and dreidels and string them up.
7. Coloring. Our Hanukkah coloring pages feature menorahs, dreidels and festive patterns.

Cooking together

• Latkes. Grate potatoes and onion, squeeze out the liquid, mix with egg and a little flour and fry in oil (grown-ups do the frying). Serve with apple sauce or sour cream.
• Sufganiyot. Fill doughnuts with jam using a piping bag.
• Gelt bags. Fill small bags with chocolate coins as gifts.

Learning activities

• Counting candles. Each night has one more candle. How many candles are lit across all eight nights (not counting the shamash)? (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8 = 36.)
• Dreidel math. Keep score and add up tokens.
• Story sequencing. Draw the story of Hanukkah in four pictures.
• Light science. Explore shadows and reflections with a torch.

Ideas by age

Ages 3–5: handprint menorahs, coloring, spinning dreidels and helping with latkes.

Ages 6–8: playing dreidel with the full rules, paper dreidels, cards and story sequencing.

Ages 9–11: cooking latkes with supervision, learning Hebrew letters on the dreidel and candle math.

Safety notes

• Supervise children closely around lit candles and hot oil.
• Place the menorah on a stable, heat-proof surface away from curtains.
• Use paper or battery candles for crafts.

Celebrating respectfully

If your family doesn't celebrate Hanukkah, approach it as learning about a friend's or neighbour's culture. Hanukkah is not "Jewish Christmas"; it has its own meaning and history.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Comparing it with Christmas. Talk about Hanukkah on its own terms.
• Skipping the story. It explains the eight nights and the oil.
• Leaving candles unattended. Always supervise.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Hanukkah last eight nights?

To remember the miracle of the oil, which lasted eight days when there was only enough for one.

What is a shamash?

The helper candle on the menorah, used to light the other candles.

Why do people eat fried food at Hanukkah?

To remember the miracle of the oil.

Eight nights of Hanukkah activities

• Night 1: tell the story of Hanukkah and light the first candle.
• Night 2: play dreidel.
• Night 3: make a paper menorah.
• Night 4: cook latkes together.
• Night 5: make Hanukkah cards for family and friends.
• Night 6: a giving night: donate toys or food.
• Night 7: decorate a blue and white garland.
• Night 8: a family celebration with songs, games and doughnuts.

What does "Hanukkah" mean?

Hanukkah means "dedication," remembering the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.

How do you spell Hanukkah?

It's written in Hebrew letters, so there are several English spellings, including Hanukkah and Chanukah.

What is gelt?

Chocolate or real coins given to children during Hanukkah.