Test your knowledge of Hanukkah with our fascinating collection of trivia questions covering everything from ancient traditions and miraculous stories to modern celebrations and delicious foods associated with the Festival of Lights!
1. For how many evenings is the Festival of Lights celebrated?
8
Hanukkah lasts for eight nights to commemorate the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the ancient Temple.
2. When lighting the Hanukkah candles on the first evening, how many blessings are recited?
3
Three blessings are recited on the first night: for lighting the candles, for the miracle of Hanukkah, and the Shehecheyanu blessing for new occasions.
3. In which direction are the candles placed in the Hanukkiah?
Right to left
Following Hebrew tradition of reading right to left, the Hanukkah candles are placed in the menorah from right to left.
4. What is the traditional Hanukkah currency gift called?
Gelt
Gelt, which means 'money' in Yiddish, is traditionally given as a gift during Hanukkah, often in the form of chocolate coins.
5. Which traditional color combination represents Hanukkah?
Blue, white, and sometimes silver
These colors are traditionally associated with Hanukkah, with blue and white representing the Israeli flag and silver adding a festive touch.
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Learn more!6. What cooking method is symbolic in traditional Hanukkah food preparation?
Frying
Frying foods in oil commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the Temple.
7. Which major U.S. holiday can coincide with Hanukkah celebrations?
Thanksgiving
Due to the Hebrew calendar's lunar nature, Hanukkah can occasionally overlap with the American Thanksgiving holiday.
8. What traditional Hanukkah game piece was historically used to hide Torah study?
The dreidel
The dreidel was used as a decoy by Jews studying Torah when it was forbidden, pretending to be playing a game when discovered.
9. What is the name of the helper candle used to light the other Hanukkah candles?
The Shamash
The Shamash, meaning 'servant' or 'helper,' is the ninth candle used to light the other eight Hanukkah candles.
10. What is the traditional name for the jelly-filled doughnuts eaten during Hanukkah?
Sufganiyot
Sufganiyot are traditional Hanukkah treats, fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days.
11. What does the surname 'Maccabee' translate to in English?
The Hammer
Judah was given the nickname 'Maccabee,' which comes from the Aramaic word 'maqqaba' meaning hammer, likely due to his military prowess.
12. What is the meaning of the Hebrew phrase 'Nes gadol haya sham'?
A miracle happened there
This phrase is represented by the Hebrew letters on the dreidel (Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin) and commemorates the Hanukkah miracle.
13. Which oil was traditionally used in the Temple menorah?
Olive oil
Olive oil was the traditional oil used in the ancient Temple and continues to be the preferred oil for Hanukkah menorahs today.
14. Where is the largest Hanukkah menorah displayed?
It is situated at Grand Army Plaza in New York
This giant menorah stands at Grand Army Plaza in New York City and holds the record for the world's largest Hanukkah menorah.
15. Who was the pioneering U.S. president to receive a menorah as a diplomatic gift?
In 1951, Harry Truman was gifted a menorah from David Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel
This historic gift marked one of the first official recognitions of Hanukkah by a U.S. president.
16. Which U.S. President initiated the tradition of lighting the National Menorah?
President Jimmy Carter in 1979
Carter established this national tradition by lighting the first National Menorah on the White House lawn in 1979.
17. When in the Hebrew calendar does Hanukkah begin?
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar
The date is fixed in the Hebrew calendar but varies in the Gregorian calendar due to differences between lunar and solar calendars.
18. In which decade was chocolate gelt first commercially produced?
The first chocolate gelt was produced in the '20s
Chocolate gelt was first manufactured in the 1920s as an American innovation of the traditional monetary gift.
19. Who was the heroic woman who helped defeat the Assyrian army during the Hanukkah story?
Judith was a young Jewish widow who bravely killed the top General of the Assyrian army, Holofernes, and helped the Israeli army launch a surprise attack
Judith's brave actions helped save her people and contributed to the Hanukkah story.
20. What is the literal translation of the Hebrew word 'Chanukah'?
dedication
The word 'Chanukah' comes from the Hebrew verb meaning 'to dedicate,' referring to the rededication of the Temple after its desecration.
21. According to Jewish tradition, what is the optimal location to display the Hanukkah menorah?
in your front window
The menorah is placed in the front window to publicly proclaim the miracle of Hanukkah to passersby.
22. Which Seleucid ruler attempted to forcibly Hellenize the Jews and ban Jewish practices?
Antiochus Epiphanes
Antiochus Epiphanes implemented severe measures to suppress Jewish religious practices and force Greek customs upon the Jewish population.
23. What is the minimum duration that Shabbat Hanukkah candles must remain lit?
30 minutes
Jewish law requires that on Friday afternoon, the Hanukkah candles must burn for at least 30 minutes after nightfall.
24. What term was used to describe Jews who adopted Greek customs and culture?
Hellenists
Hellenists were Jews who embraced Greek culture and customs, often abandoning traditional Jewish practices.
25. How many branches were on the original Temple Menorah?
7
The Menorah in the Holy Temple had seven branches, unlike the nine-branched Hanukkiah used during the holiday.
26. What is the minimum number of Hanukkah gifts required by Jewish law?
0 presents
While gift-giving has become a popular custom, it is not a religious requirement of Hanukkah.
27. What is the spiritual significance behind lighting one additional candle each night of Hanukkah?
To mirror our increasing happiness over the course of the holiday
This practice symbolizes the growing joy and light throughout the eight days of Hanukkah.
28. What are the four Hebrew characters inscribed on traditional dreidels?
Nun, Gimel, Hey or Chai, and Shin
These letters form an acronym for 'Nes Gadol Haya Sham' meaning 'a great miracle happened there.'
29. What is the religious reason behind serving fried foods during Hanukkah celebrations?
To commemorate the miracle of the oil
Foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, symbolize the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the Temple.
30. Besides the miracle of the oil, what other Jewish festival might have influenced Hanukkah's eight-day duration?
To commemorate the miracle of the oil—and perhaps as a nod to Sukkot
The eight-day celebration may have been influenced by Sukkot, which the Maccabees couldn't properly celebrate during their revolt.
31. What is Hanukkah's ranking among Jewish religious observances?
No, it is not one of Judaism's high holidays
Unlike Yom Kippur or Passover, Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday in Judaism, without the same level of religious significance or restrictions.
32. How many candles are required to properly observe all nights of Hanukkah?
44 candles
The total of 44 includes one candle for the first night, two for the second, and so on, plus the shamash (helper candle) each night.
33. Who established the White House Hanukkah party as an annual tradition?
George W. Bush in 2001
President George W. Bush initiated the first official White House Hanukkah reception as an annual tradition in 2001.
34. When during the day does the celebration of Hanukkah officially begin?
At sundown
Following the Jewish tradition of days beginning at sunset, Hanukkah celebrations commence at sundown.
35. What was the original function of the temple before the Maccabean revolt?
To honor Zeus
The Temple had been converted into a shrine to Zeus by the Seleucid Empire before the Maccabees reclaimed it.
36. Are there any restrictions on what materials can be used to make a menorah?
They can be made from almost anything
There are no specific material requirements for menorahs, allowing them to be crafted from virtually any material.
37. How long should Hanukkah candles remain lit each evening?
Until they go out or completely melt
The candles should be allowed to burn completely on their own rather than being extinguished.
38. What is the historical accuracy of nightly gift-giving during Hanukkah?
No, it is a modern adaptation
The tradition of giving gifts each night is a relatively recent custom, not part of the original Hanukkah celebration.
39. Was there unanimous Jewish support for the Maccabean revolt?
No, many Jews did not feel it was necessary to fight for the temple
There was significant division within the Jewish community, with many preferring accommodation with Hellenistic culture rather than armed conflict.
40. Where can the story of Hanukkah be found in Biblical texts?
The Old Testament (in some editions)
The Hanukkah story appears in the Books of Maccabees, which are included in some versions of the Old Testament but not in others.