Chanukah is right around the corner. This year, it starts on the 7th and ends on the 15th. Around the world Jewish families come together to celebrate this wonderful holiday. Chanukah has been celebrated since 164 BCE and it has evolved tremendously over time.

So, what is Chanukah? Chanukah is a 8-night holiday starting on the 25th night of Kislev, and the 7th day of December. Each night starts with a lighting of the menorah. Every night of Chanukah you light the menorah once, and after all the nights the menorah will be filled with light. You are to set the menorah near a window of your house. You use the Shamash to light the menorah. The Shamash is the middle candle that you always use to light the others. 

How do others celebrate Chanukah? Traditions range from making latkes or playing dreidel for gilt. Caleb says he celebrates by making latkes with his family and then saying prayers for Chanukah night. Afterward, he goes into the living room and sometimes gets a present or two. The only way his dad lets him open the present is by answering correctly to a question about how Hanukkah started.

We asked Mrs. Reichman, a Jewish Gateway teacher, “What are your traditions?”

“Well, for each night of Hanukkah we light a candle and eat donuts, my son will also open the gifts he receives,” she responded.

All in all, Chanukah is an important holiday that deserves more awareness. It is a big part of people’s lives and identity. There are so many different ways to acknowledge it and traditions to partake in to celebrate this holiday.