Celebrating Hanukkah with Traditional Foods

The Tradition of Hanukkah Foods

Since Hanukkah is based on a miracle with oil, it is customary to eat foods cooked in oil to celebrate the holiday. One of these foods is a potato pancake, or latke, topped with applesauce or sour cream. Another food is a jelly-filled donut, or sufganiyah, which is popular in Israel.

What is Hanukkah?

The festival known as Hanukkah is celebrated by Jews. The closest comparison we can make is that it is similar to the Jewish version of Christmas. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means "dedication," which is where the term "Hanukkah" originates. It's about how the Second Temple was dedicated anew after Judah Maccabee's people, the Maccabees, fought for three years against the Greco-Syrian Seleucid Empire. The Festival of Lights is another name for the event. On a special candle stand called a menorah, candles are lit to mark the occasion.

What are some traditional foods eaten during Hanukkah?

Some traditional foods eaten during Hanukkah include latkes, which are potato pancakes often topped with applesauce or sour cream, and sufganiyot, which are jelly-filled donuts popular in Israel.