Great Hanukkah Games

Hanukkah, also called The Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Jewish temple and the victory of the Macabees. Also, Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of lamp oil that burned for eight days when it should have only lasted one day. Hanukkah is celebrated with gift-giving, merriment and the lighting of the menorah. If you're planning a Hanukkah celebration this year, you'll need some fun games to keep the party going. Here are some ideas:

Probably the most traditional Hanukkah games is Dreidel. The dreidel is a four sided top. Each side means something different: Nun stands for nothing, Gimmel means everything, Hey means half and Shin means pay. The game is played by first placing an ante into the center of the gaming area. This could be coins, candy or game pieces. Then, each player takes turns spinning the dreidel and following the instructions. When one player has taken all the coins, candy or game pieces, they are declared the winner. Dreidel is great fun for players of all ages, from toddlers to seniors!

Another fun idea is to get a Hanukkah themed pinata and fill it with all sorts of goodies like candy and party favors. Blindfold players, spin them around, and let them whack at the pinata. Adults and kids alike can have fun trying to crack open the Hanukkah pinata!

For kids looking for an activity to keep them busy, try printing out some Hanukkah coloring pages or make a Hanukkah word search on your word processor. You could gather all your party guests together and take turns creating a Hanukkah themed story where each person adds a line to the story. You could even make the lines of the story rhyme for extra silliness. Try singing some traditional Hanukkah songs. You can even split up your guests and try singing in a round.

If you're throwing a Hanukkah party, all the games don't have to be holiday themed. You could try board games or play cards. Play some music and encourage your guests to dance. The most important thing is that you're together with your loved ones, and that everyone is enjoying the time spent together celebrating this special holiday!