Hanukkah Trivia Questions and Answers

How much do you know about the history of Hanukkah celebration? Check out our Hanukkah trivia questions and answers to find out.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE.

It is also known as the Festival of Lights and is celebrated for eight days and nights by lighting a special menorah, eating traditional foods, playing games, exchanging gifts, and more.

For more history quiz, see also Presidents Day Trivia Questions And Answers, and Veterans Day Trivia Questions and Answers.

Hanukkah Trivia Questions and Answers

1. The word Hanukkah also referred to as?

Answer: Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights.

2. When is Hanukkah celebrated?

Answer: Hanukkah is celebrated in the Jewish calendar for eight days, starting on the 25th day of the month of Kislev. In the Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah can fall anywhere between late November and late December.

3. What is the story behind Hanukkah?

Answer: Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of the oil that happened in the second century BCE, when a small group of Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees defeated the powerful Syrian-Greek army and regained control of Jerusalem. When they rededicated the Temple, they found only enough oil to light the menorah (a seven-branched candelabrum) for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight days.

4. How is Hanukkah traditionally celebrated?

Answer: Hanukkah is traditionally celebrated by lighting the menorah, playing with dreidels (four-sided spinning tops), exchanging gifts, and eating special foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).

5. What is the menorah used for during Hanukkah?

Answer: The menorah is a central symbol of Hanukkah and is used to hold the Hanukkah candles. Each night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit, starting with one candle on the first night and ending with eight candles on the final night.

6. What is the dreidel used for during Hanukkah?

Answer: The dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah toy that is used to play a simple gambling game. Each side of the dreidel is marked with a Hebrew letter that stands for a word in a phrase that means "A great miracle happened there." Players take turns spinning the dreidel and performing actions based on which letter it lands on.

7. What is the significance of the number eight in Hanukkah?

Answer: The number eight is significant in Hanukkah because it represents the eight days that the oil in the Temple miraculously lasted. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, and the menorah is lit for eight nights.

8. What is the significance of the number nine in Hanukkah?

Answer: The number nine is significant in Hanukkah because it represents the ninth candle on the menorah, known as the "shamash" or "servant" candle.

9. What is the significance of the Hanukkah foods?

Answer: The traditional Hanukkah foods have symbolic significance. Latkes are fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil in the Temple, and sufganiyot are round and filled with jam to represent the miracle of the oil.

10. What other traditions are associated with Hanukkah?

Answer: Other traditions associated with Hanukkah include singing Hanukkah songs, telling the story of the miracle of the oil, and playing games.

Chanukkah Trivia Questions and Answers

11. What is the Hebrew word for Hanukkah?

Answer: The Hebrew word for Hanukkah is חֲנֻכָּה (pronounced "chanukah").

12. What is the traditional greeting for Hanukkah?

Answer: The traditional greeting for Hanukkah is "Hanukkah Sameach," which means "Happy Hanukkah" in Hebrew.

13. Who were the Maccabees?

Answer: The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebels who fought against the Syrian-Greek army in the second century BCE and regained control of Jerusalem.

14. Why was the Temple in Jerusalem important to the Jewish people?

Answer: The Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship and the place where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. It was a symbol of national independence and religious freedom for the Jewish people.

15. What is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant?

Answer: The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred chest that contained the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. It was considered the holiest object in Judaism and was housed in the Temple in Jerusalem.

16. What is the shamash candle used for?

Answer: The shamash candle is used to light the other candles on the menorah. It is usually placed in a higher or lower position than the other candles and is referred to as the "servant" candle.

17. What are some popular Hanukkah songs?

Answer: Some popular Hanukkah songs include "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel," "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah," and "I Have a Little Dreidel."

18. What is the significance of the color blue in Hanukkah?

Answer: The color blue is often associated with Hanukkah because it is one of the colors of the tallit, a traditional Jewish prayer shawl. The tallit is sometimes worn during Hanukkah prayers and ceremonies.

19. What is the Hanukkah prayer called?

Answer: The Hanukkah prayer is called the "Al HaNissim" ("On the Miracles"). It is a special prayer that is recited during Hanukkah to give thanks for the miracles that occurred during the Maccabean Revolt.

20. Who was the first U.S. president to light the National Menorah in the White House?

Answer: President Jimmy Carter, in 1979.