PaginePaginepagineapp.comWhat is Hanukkah? A free printable guide for kids to the eight-night Jewish Festival of Lights — its story, its symbols, and how families celebrate.
Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is an eight-night Jewish festival, sometimes called the Festival of Lights. It begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually falls in late November or December. The word Hanukkah means “dedication.”
More than 2,000 years ago, the land of Judea was ruled by a king who would not let Jewish people practise their religion. A small group called the Maccabees fought back and won. They cleaned the Temple in Jerusalem and dedicated it again. The story is told that they found only enough pure oil to light the Temple lamp for one day — but it burned for eight days. That is why Hanukkah lasts eight nights.
The Hanukkah menorah, also called a hanukkiah, holds nine candles or oil lights: one for each of the eight nights, plus a helper candle called the shamash. The shamash is used to light the others.
On the first night, one candle is lit (plus the shamash). Each night one more is added, until all eight are glowing on the last night. Families often say blessings and sing songs, and place the menorah in a window so the light can be seen outside.
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top. Each side has a Hebrew letter: נ Nun · ג Gimel · ה Hei · ש Shin Together they stand for “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” — “A great miracle happened there.” In Israel the last letter is פ Pe, for “Po” — “here.”
Everyone starts with the same number of tokens (coins, raisins or chocolate gelt) and puts one in the middle (the “pot”). Take turns spinning: נ Nun — nothing happens. ג Gimel — take the whole pot! ה Hei — take half the pot. ש Shin — put one token in. When the pot is empty, everyone adds one more. Play until someone has all the tokens — or until dinner!
Foods cooked in oil remind families of the oil that lasted eight days. Latkes are crispy potato pancakes, often eaten with applesauce or sour cream. Sufganiyot are round jam-filled doughnuts, especially popular in Israel.
Gelt means “money” in Yiddish. Children are often given coins or chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil — handy for the dreidel game! Many families also give small gifts, or give to people in need (tzedakah).
Hanukkah — “dedication” Maccabees — the brave group who won back the Temple Menorah / hanukkiah — the nine-branched candle holder Shamash — the helper candle Dreidel — a spinning top Latke — a potato pancake Gelt — coins, often chocolate Chag sameach — “happy holiday”
This free Hanukkah printable explains the festival simply and accurately for children — great for classrooms, families and anyone learning about Hanukkah. Find stories to match in the Hanukkah collection.