Hanukkah - Holiday Food and Fun

What is Hanukkah? Why do Jews celebrate Hanukkah? How is Hanukkah observed? What food is traditionally served for Hanukkah? Read a succinct explanation of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.

After lighting the Hanukkah Menorah together, Jewish families and their guests may eat traditional Hanukkah food, play the Dreidel game, and exchange gifts. Find a traditional meat Hanukkah menu and recipes.

One Hanukkah food tradition is eating dairy products, especially cheese, in commemoration of the Jewish heroine Judith (Yehudit). Find a traditional dairy Hanukkah menu and recipes.

During the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah, many families invite relatives and friends over to light the menorah, sing songs, play dreidel, exchange gifts and enjoy traditional Hanukkah food. These traditional and contemporary holiday menus can help you plan a wonderful Hanukkah party.

Fried Potato Pancakes, called Latkes in Yiddish and Levivot in Hebrew, are the most popular Hanukkah food. While traditional latkes are made from potatoes, today one can find many creative twists to the traditional latkes recipe. They include sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, guacamole, cheese and even tuna latkes. Find a variety of Hanukkah Latkes recipes.

I don't like to make or eat the deep-fried, jelly-filled doughnuts, called Sufganiot, that are traditionally enjoyed during Hanukkah in Israel. However, my children, like all Israeli kids, think Sufganiot rule. Find a variety of Hanukkah Sufganiot recipes.

Hanukkah desserts come in all shapes, sizes, colors and flavors. Enjoy decorated holiday Sugar Cookies, Cupcake Menorahs, traditional Hanukkah Doughnuts and contemporary cakes. Find a variety of Hanukkah dessert recipes.

Find Hanukkah recipes for holiday favorites like applesauce, brisket, Bimuelos, Loukoumathes, fruit punch, mulled wine and more.