How to decorate your house on Hanukkah

Hanukkah Decor Ideas

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights or Dedication. It begins on Kislev 25 (usually in December, according to the Gregorian calendar) and is celebrated for eight days.

The word “Hanukkah” means “the lighting of the lamps”. Traditionally Hanukkah is celebrated with feasting, dancing, and merriment. This celebration is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate their love for each other and with the community.

The traditional decors usually involve use of Menorahs and Dreidels.

• Menorahs: The Menorah is said to symbolize the connection of light and life. A menorah has nine candlesticks, eight of them representing the nights of Hanukkah and one, the Shamash (servant candle), to light all the others. One candle is lit on the first evening, and an additional candle is lit on each subsequent evening until eight candles are burning on the last evening. These Hanukkiah, or Hanukkah menorahs, can be set indoors on tables and windows. 

• Dreidels: A dreidel is a traditional game which is basically a spinning top decorated with Hebrew letters. Dreidel is a Hebrew word that implies "to turn around". The dreidel is engraved with Hebrew  letters "Nes gadol hayah sham," which means, "A great miracle happened here." Some dreidels also feature a transliteration of each letter to make it easier for those who don't read Hebrew. This game beings by giving each player an equal number of games pieces, such as coins, nuts etc. At the beginning of each round, every player puts one game piece into the center “pot.” Players then take turns spinning the dreidel. When the top lands on nun, the player gets nothing; on gimel, the player gets the entire contents of the pot; hey, the player gets half of the pot; and shin, the player must put a piece (or coin) into the pot.