We began celebrating Hanukkah in 2011 when we learned about the Hebrew festivals during ancient studies in history with the Tapestry of Grace curriculum.
We love celebrating Hanukkah.
The kids loved the Jewish feasts all so much that we celebrate them every year now!
May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all humankind.
How we celebrate Hanukkah:
Celebrating Light
The first year, we had a plain silver colored menorah.
We’ve focused our Bible studies about LIGHT this week.
There are so many Bible verses about light. We’ve read Bible lessons and sang songs and prayed about light.
I love my new “I AM” menorah. (I have the Passover cup and plate too.)
Music
We love the Maccabeats! We listen to these guys even when it’s not a Jewish festival time. They’re just awesome.
Food
We usually have beef brisket or beef tips.
But my favorite is beef short ribs!
The kids look forward to potato latkes all year long!
Fun
We play games, complete fun printable pages, and of course, play the dreidel!
- Hanukkah Printables from Education.com
- ABCTeach printables
- DLTK Kids Activities
- Fun Party Printables from Catch My Party
- Packs from 3 Dinosaurs
Coloring pages are always a hit!
These cute printable Hanukkah puzzles are fun for preschoolers!
My Jewish friend gave me these amazing workbooks after her kids outgrew them!
The girls like coloring pages, writing prompts, songs, and poems. They really soak up everything I teach them now. I love it!
There are some great Hanukkah decor ideas, cards, recipes, worksheets, and printable games at Education.com.
They’re the perfect age now to do the fun activities and learn about Hanukkah. They’re out of print now.
Check out the fun story and pictures:
Dreidel Game
The Hebrew Nes Gadol Hayah Sham mean “A miracle happened there.” Those are the letters on the dreidel.
1. Give each person the same amount of candy, nuts, chocolate coins, or pennies.
2. Each player puts one piece in the “pot.”
3. The first player spins the dreidel and does what the dreidel says.
Gimel—take all
Hay—take half
Shin—add 1 to pot
Nun—take nothing
4. After a player gets a Gimel, everyone puts one more piece into the pot.
5. Everyone gets a turn. When you finish playing, you can eat your candy.
Presents
That first year, I gave the kids a tiny present each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. It’s always extra special when the week of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas.
Some years, we just save one present for the last night of Hanukkah. (We like to travel and celebrate Christmas too. Presents are never our focus or priority.)
One year, we had themed presents for 8 nights!
I gave the girls nail polish and we had a nails and Doctor Who marathon after dinner (Alex got a fun activity book about Hanukkah). The kids got new pajamas and bath towels another night. One night they got stickers. One night was puzzles. I gave them Star Wars stuff one night. Another night is socks and underwear. Candy was another night. The last night is calendars.
Books
We often check out books from the library to read during the week of Hanukkah. We also have a few in our homeschool library.
- Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg
- How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen
- All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins
- Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah by Tilda Balsley
- Hanukkah Bear by Eric A Kimmel
- Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel
- Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko
- The Story of Hanukkah by David A. Adler
- Grandma’s Latkes by Malka Drucker
Potato Latkes
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 3 cups grated potatoes Simply Potatoes!
- 1/2 onion grated
- 1 peeled carrot grated
- 1 t garlic minced
- 2 T fresh flat leaf parsley chopped (half if dried)
- 2 T matzoh meal
- 1/2 cup oil for frying
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Beat the eggs and add the grated potatoes, onion, carrot, parsley, salt, pepper, and meal. Mix and let sit for about 30 minutes.
Heat half the oil in a frying pan and drop formed potato patties into it. Repeat, adding oil as necessary.
Fry until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes each side.
Serve with applesauce or sour cream.
How lucky – your family gets two holidays this season! :) Thanks for sharing at the Thoughtful Spot!
I love this idea, Jennifer. I have a couple of friends who celebrate the Jewish feasts every year, I always enjoy seeing their pictures on FB. Thanks for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
Thanks for commenting and sharing, Lori! Happy holidays! xo
Great post, Jennifer! So happy to have you link-up with me! Thanks so much for sharing and Happy Holidays, Love! GOD bless you, beautiful friend! :-)
Love this! I absolutely adore the Maccabeats and enjoy making latkes year round as well :)
The idea of this fascinates me. Thanks so much for sharing. I am hoping to squeeze in a quick Hanukkah celebration before it is over!
So fun! My kids have started asking a lot of questions about Hanukkah this year and so this could not have come at a better time for us.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays! Thank you for sharing at the #Made4Kids Link Party!
Thanks for linking up to Home Matters Party. #HomeMattersParty http://cu-rio.net/home-matters-linky-party-66/
Just to clarify: Nes GADOL Hayah Sham means “a GREAT miracle happened there”. We believe in Messiah, the light of the world, and have been celebrating Hanukkah since my kids were 1, 1, and 3, as well as God’s other festivals. It only makes sense to do what He tells us to do, doesn’t it? Have a blessed day!