What time should the menorah be lit each night?

Menorahs are typically lit after nightfall each evening of Chanukah, with the number of candles increasing by one each night. Some communities have specific customs around exact timing, so check with a local rabbi if you want to be precise.

Why do we eat fried foods on Chanukah?

Foods fried in oil, like latkes and sufganiyot, commemorate the small jar of oil that miraculously lasted eight days when the Temple was rededicated.

Does everyone in the family light their own menorah?

It depends on family custom. Some households have one menorah per family, while others have each family member, including children, light their own.

Is Chanukah a major or minor holiday?

Chanukah is considered a minor biblical holiday compared to holidays like Pesach or the High Holidays, but it's widely and warmly celebrated, especially within families and communities.

Where can I find public menorah lightings near me?

Many communities host public menorah lightings and family programs throughout Chanukah. Local Jewish event listings and community organizations are the best place to find one near you.

Chanukah in the Community: Traditions & Family Ideas

Quick answer: Chanukah is an eight-night holiday marked by lighting a menorah (chanukiah) each evening, eating fried foods like latkes and donuts, playing dreidel, and gathering with family and community. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple and the small jar of oil that lasted eight days.

Lighting the Menorah

Each night of Chanukah, families add one more candle (or one more wick of oil) to the menorah, using the shamash (helper candle) to do the lighting, typically after nightfall. A few practical points that come up every year:

Placement matters — many families light near a window or doorway so the light is visible from outside, publicizing the miracle
Some households have every family member — kids included — light their own menorah rather than one per household
Oil versus candles is a matter of custom and convenience; both are widely used
Fire safety is worth taking seriously with young kids and pets around an open flame for eight nights running

Foods, Games, and Traditions

Chanukah’s culinary traditions center on foods fried in oil, a nod to the oil that lasted eight days. Latkes (potato pancakes) are the most familiar in many Ashkenazi homes, while sufganiyot (jelly donuts) are especially associated with Israeli and Sephardic celebrations — many families today make both. Other common traditions include:

Playing dreidel, often with gelt (chocolate coins) or small stakes
Giving Chanukah gelt or small gifts, sometimes one per night
Singing traditional songs after lighting
Family game nights and get-togethers throughout the week

Gift-Giving and Family Ideas

Approaches to gifts vary a lot by family — some do one gift per night, some save for one bigger gift, and some skip gifts and focus on family time and tzedakah (charitable giving) instead. A few ideas that work well across observance levels:

A rotating “host night” where each family member or relative hosts one night of the eight
A family tzedakah project, picking a cause to support together each Chanukah
Latke-making or dreidel-decorating as a hands-on activity for younger kids
Inviting neighbors or newer community members to a lighting, especially if they’re far from family

Chanukah in the Community

Public menorah lightings, community latke nights, and school Chanukah programs are common throughout the week in many neighborhoods — a nice way to meet neighbors and celebrate beyond your own living room. Check Jewish Events for public lightings and family programs near you, and Community Explorer if you’re new to an area and want to find local shuls, kosher stores, or Jewish organizations.

Chanukah is also a busy season for small businesses and side work — menorah and gift sales, latke catering, holiday photography, and more. If you’re hiring seasonal help or looking for work yourself, Jobs has local listings, and Add a Listing is a simple way to sell menorahs, dreidels, or holiday items you no longer need.

Not every family has the means to cover gifts, oil, or a proper holiday meal, and not everyone has somewhere to go for a lighting. Chessed connects families who need a little extra support this time of year with neighbors who are able to help. If your household is settling into a new home before the holiday, Real Estate and Rentals can help you find a place in time to make it feel like home for the first lighting.

A Simple Chanukah Checklist

Stock up on candles or oil, wicks, and a menorah for each family member if that’s your custom
Plan your latke and sufganiyot menu (and who’s frying)
Decide on your family’s gift-giving approach for the eight nights
Pick a tzedakah project or cause to support together
Check Jewish Events for public lightings and community programs

By the HeimishMart Community Desk — HeimishMart is the community marketplace for Jewish homes, jobs, and local life across North America.