In the Chanuka Spirit

With a lot of the distractions of “regular life” it can be hard to sustain the Chanuka spirit for eight days.

Here are some ways you can bring the Chanuka spirit into your home:

Music!

It feels like, it’s not Chanuka until it sounds like Chanuka. So play the music – loud and often.

And dance!

Upgrade your meals

Make meal times special by eating using real dishes, using nice/themed paper goods, eating in the dining room instead of the kitchen, having a family dinner instead of scattered shifts, serving something extra (dessert or a special drink), making a special dish.

Have family fun

Use the post-menorah lighting time for connection, if you can.

• Play dreidel – customize it to your family’s stage to make it more fun for all ages

• Play any board game as a family, or games like charades, hangman, or make-your-own Headbanz, with consequences or custom twists

Make your own Chanuka games like: pin the shamash on the menorah/the gimmel on the dreidel, use jug cutouts to create a treasure hunt for the pach shemen, or play Chanuka-themed bingo.

Look for the light

Take a menorah-spotting walk. Just appreciate the twinkling lights, or make it a game – find the most elaborate menorah, home with the most menorahs, or challenge your family to find whatever number of menorahs is doable in your neighborhood.

Make Chanuka goodies

There’s nothing like dreidel-shaped sugar cookies with too many sprinkles.

Latkes and homemade donuts are activities as much as they are treats. Have a potato peeling race, set out a bar of toppings and fillings… and yum.

🕎 How do you bring the Chanuka spirit into your home? Thank you for sharing with us! [email protected] 

Download an oil jug template here: