How do you say ‘Happy Hanukkah’ in Hebrew?
HANUKKAH is an eight-day Jewish holiday that begins with the lighting of the first menorah candle.
The 2023 celebrations start at nightfall on December 7 and end at nightfall on December 15, during which time friends and family will wish each other a Happy Hanukkah.
How do you say Happy Hanukkah in Hebrew?
Hanukkah give the opportunity to gather with loved ones, share delicious foods, and participate in various ceremonies and games.
Wishing someone a Happy Hanukkah is one of many ways to express joy and greetings to those observing the Jewish holiday.
The Hebrew translation shows an understanding and appreciation for friends and family, which are a huge part of Hanukkah celebrations.
In Hebrew, the literal translation for Happy Hanukkah is "Hanukkah Sameach', but saying "Chag Sameach", meaning "Happy Holidays", is equally acceptable.
If you want to specifically wish the person Happy Holidays for the Hanukkah celebrations, you could say "Chag Hanukkah Sameach".
Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights and you can wish someone a "Happy Festival of Lights" in Hebrew by saying "Khag Urim Sameach".
In Hebrew, Hanukkah is pronounced with the letter "chet" so it sounds like "Chanukah".
What is the Hanukkah story?
The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedication" and honours the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom.
The story of the beginning of Hanukkah dates back more than 2,000 years ago when a Greek ruler, Antiochus, imposed the Pagan religion on the Jewish people.
Two men rose up to fight for their people's beliefs; Matisyahu, an old priest, and his son, Yehuda, who sacrificed themselves to defeat Antiochus.
A band of followers called battled alongside the father and son, eventually overthrowing the Greeks to win back their home and their freedom.
The Jewish people rejoiced and cleaned their temple, but only one bottle of blessed oil remained and there was just enough to light one candle.
To the surprise of the people, the oil burned for eight days until more pure, blessed oil arrived.
Every year since that fateful battle, as the story goes, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah commemorates the tenacity and willpower of the Jewish people.
Hanukkah is considered one of the most important holidays for Jewish people, although it is not mentioned in the Torah.
This is because the tradition arose from historical events that occurred centuries after the Torah was written.
What are some Hanukkah traditions?
Hanukkah celebrations include lighting a candle on the menorah each night.
The Hanukkah menorah has nine candles; one for each of the eight days that the oil lasted in the traditional story, and one to light the rest.
Friends and family may also gift one present for each night of Hanukkah, and gifts are usually small, thoughtful, and often food-related.
Children are given Hanukkah Gelt which is chocolate wrapped coins that are also used to play dreidel.
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top which is used to play a traditional game of chance.
Food is a big part of Hanukkah celebrations and there are several traditional dishes that are served during this time.
One beloved dish is Latkes, which means pancakes in Yiddish.
Latkes are potato pancakes cooked in oil and are traditionally served with applesauce and sour cream.
Sufganiyot is another food consumed during Hanukkah.
They are jelly-filled donuts that are fried in oil and topped with powdered sugar.