Hanukkah, also called the Feast of Lights, has been celebrated for more than 2000 years. It commemorates the heroic Maccabees when they joined forces with the Jewish people to fight against the king and his army. It took many years of death and destruction, but they won the war.

In every temple, they lit the lamp that burns all day and all night. The Jewish people were horrified when they discovered they only had enough oil for the lamp to be lit for just one day. To make new oil it would take eight days. Then an amazing thing happened. The oil that was only to have been enough to light one day lasted eight days until the new oil was ready.

That's where the Feast of Lights got its name – from the celebration of the miracle of the lit lamp. For eight days in early December – on the 25th day of the Jewish month "Kislev" – the Jewish people light a candle. The middle and biggest candle is used to light the other candles.

Hanukkah is a time to celebrate with family and friends at feasts and gatherings. Games and gift giving are part of the ritual. To commemorate the miracle of oil, many foods are fried. Below you'll find a Latkes recipe (potato pancakes) you can make with your child, and easy crafts and games for your preschooler.

Latkes

You'll need:
6 medium potatoes
1 small onion
1 teaspoon of salt
1 beaten egg
3 tablespoons of flour or bread crumbs
½ teaspoon of baking powder
Oil

Wash, peel and grate the potatoes. Set on a clean dish towel to absorb the excess liquid. Grate the onion. In a bowl mix together the potatoes, onions, salt and egg. Mix well. Add the flour and baking powder and mix again. Preheat the oil in a frying pan. Drop spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil and brown on both sides. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with cinnamon or serve with applesauce or sour cream.

A Star of David

You'll need:
6 Popsicle sticks (for each star)
Glue
Glitter

Take three Popsicle sticks and glue to form a triangle; repeat with remaining sticks. Attach triangles together, one triangle pointing upward and the other pointing downward. Spread the Popsicle sticks with glue and sprinkle with glitter; let dry. Turn the star over and repeat with the glue and glitter. Hang with a piece of yarn in the window.

Menorah

You'll need:
8 empty rolls of toilet paper
1 empty roll of paper towel
Glue or adhesive tape
Yellow, orange and red tissue paper

Glue or use adhesive tape to stick the four toilet paper rolls together, side-by-side. Glue on the paper towel roll. Glue the remaining four toilet paper rolls together, side-by-side – you'll have nine rolls in a row, with the paper towel roll in the middle. Take a piece of yellow tissue paper (4 inches by 11 inches) and place on the table. Place a strip or two of red and orange (to imitate the colors in the flame) on the piece of yellow tissue paper. Scrunch up the tissue paper a little and place inside each toilet paper roll. Repeat until all the rolls have become candles.

Dreidel

This activity will be for the older preschooler due to the toothpick and small pieces.

You'll need:
Cardboard (piece of 3-inch by 3-inch)
A round toothpick
Ruler
Washable markers

Take your ruler and make two diagonal lines across the square to make an "X." Write the Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Heh and Shin in each triangle. Prick the middle of the cardboard with the toothpick and place the cardboard halfway down the toothpick. It will look like a top.

How to Play With the Dreidel
Each player gets 10 pennies, beans, raisins or pieces of candy. Each player then puts one of his pieces in the middle and one spins the Dreidel. Follow the indications on the Dreidel.

Nun: Don't do anything and the next player spins the Dreidel.
Gimel: Take everything in the middle and add to your pile.
Heh: Take half of the pieces in the middle
Shin: Add two pieces from your pile.

The game is over when there are no pieces remaining in the middle.

Want to see more?

• Hanukkah: A History of Tradition
• Holiday Crafts: Gifts Kids Can Make Themselves
• Holiday Headquarters
• Talk about it!