Emily Flores
Hanukkah tends to stir up memories of warm kitchens and small rituals that shaped whole seasons. Lately, more families are finding fresh meaning in old traditions. Something about today’s pace makes these moments feel surprisingly grounding and fun. If you’re curious about the shifts happening around menorahs and gathering time, keep reading.
Eating Dairy Foods
Some nights start with Judith’s wild story about serving salty cheese to Holofernes. He got thirsty, so he drank too much wine and passed out. She ended the siege herself. Families love retelling it while frying cheese latkes or rolling ricotta blintzes, which is why many call it their “feminist night.”
Chag HaBanot
This celebration lands on Rosh Chodesh Tevet, usually late in Hanukkah. It puts daughters in the spotlight. North African and Sephardic families have honored Jewish women this way for generations. Girls skip chores, mothers give blessings, and the women gather for sweets, songs, and dancing without the men.
Diaspora-Specific Fried Foods
The long tradition of frying during Hanukkah dates back to the Temple’s oil miracle, but each community has shaped it differently over time. Italian Jews fry chicken or artichokes, while Greek kitchens turn out honeyed loukoumades. Moreover, North African families pass around soft, tearable sfenj.
Tzedakah Night
Some families shift the mood by talking about old gelt traditions, when kids and the poor received real coins. That idea inspires a donation night instead of a single gift night. Kids choose a cause, and parents sometimes quietly match the amount. Everyone ends the evening feeling good about helping.
Creative Dreidel Game Variations
The dreidel’s letters still carry the old reminder of a miracle, but today’s games don’t stay traditional for long. Families twist the rules into bingo versions or playful team setups. And once the pot becomes M&Ms or maple syrup minis, the whole game changes tone.
Hands-On Sufganiyot Or Gelt Making
Kitchens get busy when kids help with sufganiyot, which show up only during Hanukkah in Israel. Fillings range from dulce de leche to halva or peanut butter and marshmallow. Meanwhile, melted chocolate turns into homemade gelt stamped with goofy family symbols or inside jokes that stick around year after year.
Eight Nights Of Books
Some households skip toys and wrap books instead, one for each night. By the end, kids end up with a small new library. Parents hide each book around the house. This turns bedtime into a scavenger hunt before anyone even opens the cover.
Virtual Or Tech-Enhanced Menorah Lighting
Families still put menorahs in the window, but many now light together online too. Pandemic habits made nightly Zoom and FaceTime lighting feel normal. Remote-controlled electric menorahs let travelers “press” the shamash from far away, so everyone shares the moment at the same time.
Gratitude Ritual During Lighting
After saying the blessings, some families go candle by candle and share things they’re thankful for. By night eight, the list gets long, especially when little kids mention the dog, their sneakers, or fresh latkes. It keeps the mood warm and gives each night a personal touch.
Artistic, Eco, Or Travel Menorahs
A hanukkiah still needs nine branches, but the materials can be anything. Families build them from Lego, driftwood, bottles, or polished metal. Tiny magnetic travel menorahs stick to mini fridges or airplane tray tables, making it easy to spark the Hanukkah glow wherever people happen to be.