Channukah “feels like a big, warm hug,” Mirko T. says. (Photos courtesy of Mirko T.)
Hannukah, which can be spelled Channukah and many different ways, is meaningful to me and my family. To me, it means spending time with family and friends. To me, it means enjoying being together. Channukah is a beautiful and great holiday.
To me, Channukah is …
• family
• playing dreidel
• lighting the candles on the menorah
• the excitement of opening presents
• saying the blessings over the candles
• singing songs
• the yummy taste of gelt (chocolate coins)
• the crispy edges of delicious latkes (potato pancakes)
• the sweet jelly filling of sufganiyot (jelly donuts)
• sharing this holiday with friends .
Sweets shaped like dreidel and other designs
Sometimes we have friends who aren’t Jewish come celebrate Hannukah with us. I like that they celebrate with us even though they have a different religion and celebrate their own holidays. I like that they get to enjoy Hannukah and share my traditions.
Because Hannukah is in the winter, you get to be cozy inside, sometimes drinking hot chocolate and having gelt while you play dreidel. This holiday feels like a big, warm hug. • MIRKO T.
Lighting the candles on the menorah is just one part of Channukah that is meaningful to Mirko.