The Jewish holiday of Chanukah is celebrated in December, usually near Christmastime. In 2009, the first night of Chanukah falls on December 11.
Chanukah is considered a rather minor Jewish holiday. In fact, it is not even mentioned in the Jewish Bible, the Torah. However, because this Jewish holiday falls around the same time as Christmas, Jews in America have transformed the traditional ritiuals into a major celebration.
Traditional Celebrations of Chanukah
Traditionally, Chanukah celebrations include these rituals:
- lighting a special menorah, called a chanukiah, for eight days;
- saying a special prayer when lighting the menorah candles;
- making and eating potato pancakes, called latkes;
- playing a game with a simple spinning top, called a dreidel;
- giving children a few coins, or chocolates covered in shiny foil, called Chanukah gelt; and
- singing simple Chanukah songs, including Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) and Chanukah Oh Chanukah.
Jews still retain all these traditional celebrations of Chanukah. However, they have transformed them into much more special, elaborate, and imaginative versions of the old traditional celebrations.
Modern Menorahs and Dreidels
The candelabra lit on Chanukah must have eight candleholders that stand at an even level, and one candleholder must be taller than the other eight. This taller candleholder, called the shamas, is used to light the others for eight consecutive days. One candle is lit the first night, two the second, and so on. A prayer is said before lighting any Chanukah candles. This prayer can be found on the box in which the Chanukah candles are packaged.
Traditionally, the Chanukah menorah, or chanukiah, was a simple and tasteful candelabra, usually made of a simple metal alloy. But today’s Chanukah menorahs are often artistic, beautiful and highly creative. In Judaica shops all over America, one can find imaginative, ceramic menorahs.
One particularly memorable menorah has candle holders shaped like animals of Noah’s Ark. One can also find exquisitely crafted porcelain menorahs, some shaped like tulips, or majestic gold or silver plated menorahs. One can even find sports-themed menorahs. Indeed, menorah-making has become its own art form.
Even the candles for the menorah have been transformed from simple small tapers, into elaborately designed, molded, and colored candles. Some are multicolored, some glitter and shine, some are shaped like graceful willows.
Similarly, the traditional dreidel was a simple four-sided spinning top, usually made of wood or plastic. Today’s dreidels are crafted into an imaginative array of artistic creations, hand painted into colorful, beautiful artifacts. These also can be found in Judaica shops in most large American cities or towns.
Modern Chanukah Parties and Celebrations
Jews still celebrate Chanukah with modest gift-giving. Traditionally, one small gift is given on each of the eight days of the holiday, and most observant Jews still try to keep the gift-giving a less important part of the holiday, although this is sometimes difficult with children, given the holiday’s temporal proximity to Christmas gift-giving.
But the Chanukah gathering has become much more elaborate. In the past, a family simply gathered around one menorah and took turns lighting the Chanukah candles, usually starting with the oldest member of the family, to the youngest. Dinner would consist of the usual fare, plus some potato pancakes, served along with sugar or applesauce.
Today’s celebration, however, includes lots of friends and families, perhaps each bringing their own menorah; plus lots of food, modern Israeli pop music and a full array of colorful decorations on the tables, walls, mantles, and windows.
However many American Jews expand the celebration of Chanukah, the center of the celebration remains what it’s always been: families gathered around the Chanukah menorah to celebrate the Festival of Lights that commemorates the struggle to secure their right to celebrate Jewish holidays, observe Jewish customs and worship as Jews. In the United States, with its religious freedom and tolerance, that celebration has become particularly joyous.
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