One of my favorite holiday traditions is sitting in front of a glowing menorah with friends and family during Hanukkah. We eat latkes until our stomachs are full of fried food. Then we play dreidel, betting chocolate in this simple top-spinning game and trying not to eat our winnings.
These are all classic Hanukkah traditions, but, in my mind, they are the perfect ways to celebrate Hanukkah. These traditions celebrate a holiday that began over 2,000 years ago, when the Maccabees defeated Greek armies and preserved their right to practice Judaism.
Learn The Story of Hanukkah from the beginning with the origin of the Maccabees and their fight for religious freedom. This book also includes a recipe for delicious latkes!
Did you know that the game of dreidel evolved from games of chance played with sheep bones? I learned that in Four Sides, Eight Nights which has eight chapters to keep you laughing and learning every night of Hanukkah.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins features one of my favorite characters of all time, Hershel of Ostropol who arrives at a village that doesn't celebrate Hanukkah. Goblins haunt their synagogue and Hershel wants to get them out of there. Over the eight nights, Hershel tricks the goblins using Hanukkah rituals.
What do a chicken, a handful of parrots and one homeless kitten have to do with Hanukkah? Everything—at least according to Beautiful Yetta's Hanukkah Kitten, a multilingual exploration of the joy of Hanukkah!
Hanukkah is never complete without a song. Everyone will know the tune for this fun Hanukkah adaptation I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Dreidel, so you can all sing together!
Happy Hanukkah!
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