Hanukkah celebrations in Israel tend to be much different than they are in America. While the premise is the same- celebrating the miracle of oil that lasted for 8 days, this country focuses solely on the history and traditions of the event.
Preparations
There’s a lot to be done in the weeks leading up to Hanukkah. Families get their homes ready with homemade crafts and decorations that are usually made by children. They start meal preparations and get ready to have friends and family over.
Eight Days Of Togetherness
In many countries, gifts are given every night of Hanukkah. However, in Israel this rarely happens. Most homes don’t give any kinds of gifts. For those that do give one, it’s usually candy or dreidels. After the hanukiya or menorah, is lit each night, prayers are often said, songs sung and food indulged in. There are 3 blessings recited on the first night of Hanukkah and 2 blessings recited on the other nights. A lot of homes have more than one menorah and it’s not uncommon for even the smallest of family members to want to light their own.
Hanukkah Celebrations
During Hanukkah you don’t just have to stay home. In fact, many families go see a production that takes place by one of the local theatres or synagogues. The Children’s Song Festival and Festigal tour the country during Hanukkah and are a favorites among families with young children. Even the archeological site of Bet Guvrin also has a varieties of activities during the week of Hanukkah as well as Jerusalem.
Traditional Foods
Traditional foods prepared during Hanukkah are often cooked in oil and fried. These foods are served as a reminder of the miracle behind the holiday. Popular dishes include:
Sufganiot- These deep fried donuts are often served with sugar on top
Latkes- This dish is usually made from potatoes and resembles a pancake
Loukoumades- These puffs are deep fried and dipped either in sugar or honey
Other Interesting Hanukkah Facts
-There are 9 candles on the menorah, including the shamus which is used to light the other candles
-Each night the candles should burn at least 30 minutes, although some households do let their candles burn throughout the entire evening while celebrations take place
-More than 17 million deep fried donuts are eaten in Israel during Hanukkah
-While many homes in America place the menorah in a front window facing the street, in Israel they tend to put their menorah outside of the front door
