Symbols of Hanukkah: Explaining Traditions to Kids
Discover the most important symbols of Hanukkah for kids. Learn their meaning and history with fun, hands-on ways to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah, often called the Festival of Lights, is a beautiful Jewish holiday filled with rich history, meaningful traditions, and symbols that have been passed down for generations. For parents of little ones, explaining the story of Hanukkah can feel like a big task—but it’s also an incredible opportunity to connect children to culture, history, and the joy of family traditions.
Whether you’re part of the Jewish people, married into a Jewish family, or simply want your children to understand the traditions their friends celebrate, exploring the symbols of Hanukkah together can be a great way to make learning hands-on and fun. Our family celebrates Hanukkah every year because my best friend (and godmother to my children) is Jewish. They’ve loved learning all about the Festival of Lights!
In this guide, we’ll walk through some of the most recognizable Hanukkah symbols—from the glowing Hanukkah menorah to the sweet chocolate coins—so you can teach your toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary kids in ways they’ll actually remember.
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The Story Behind Hanukkah
Before diving into the symbols, it helps to know the background. The story of Hanukkah takes place in the second century B.C.E., when a small group of Jewish people known as the Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem from foreign rulers.
When they went to rededicate the temple, they discovered there was only enough olive oil to light the temple menorah for one night. But in what is now remembered as the miracle of Hanukkah—or the miracle of the oil—that small amount of oil lasted for eight nights. This is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days of Hanukkah and why the lighting of the menorah is central to the holiday.
The Hebrew phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham”, which means “A great miracle happened there,” is a reminder of this story.
The Symbols of Hanukkah
Now that you know the story of Hanukkah, let’s dive into some of the most recognizable symbols of this special holiday.
The Hanukkah Menorah
Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Hanukkah is the Hanukkah menorah—also called a hanukkiyah. This special candelabrum has nine branches: one for each night of Hanukkah, plus the shamash candle, or helper candle, used to light the others.
Each night, families gather for the lighting of the menorah, adding one candle at a time until all eight are glowing. For little ones, watching the candles flicker is mesmerizing, and it’s a great chance to talk about the significance of oil and the great miracle that inspired this tradition.
Tip for parents: Let your child place the candles (with supervision, of course) or help light the shamash candle to make them feel included.
Olive Oil
Oil isn’t just a detail in the Hanukkah story—it’s a symbol of Hanukkah all on its own. The miracle of the oil is the reason the holiday is eight days long, and the significance of oil is remembered by cooking foods in it.
This means Hanukkah celebrations often include delicious fried treats like latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly-filled doughnuts called sufganiyot. Cooking together can be a great way to introduce your kids to this tradition while making memories in the kitchen.
The Dreidel
The dreidel is a small spinning top with four sides, each marked with one of four Hebrew letters: nun, gimel, hey, and shin. Together, they stand for the Hebrew phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham”—A great miracle happened there.
Playing dreidel is one of the most popular Hanukkah symbols for kids because it’s interactive, simple and fun. Traditionally, players use coins, nuts, or small candies as tokens, but these days, chocolate coins (gelt) are a favorite (my kids included!).
If you’re teaching kids to play, keep the rules simple:
- Nun – Do nothing.
- Gimel – Take all the tokens.
- Hey – Take half the tokens.
- Shin – Put one token in.
Chocolate Coins (Gelt)
Those shiny chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil are another symbol of Hanukkah that kids love. Originally, coins were given to children as a gift or to encourage giving to charity. Over time, sweet chocolate versions became popular, especially for use in dreidel games.
Giving your child gelt can be a great way to talk about generosity, kindness and the history behind the tradition. Gelt can be easily found at most major grocery stores this time of year, too.
Hanukkah Music
Singing traditional songs during the Festival of Lights is another wonderful way to connect children to the story of the first Hanukkah. Many songs reference the miracle of Hanukkah, the lighting of the menorah, and the great miracle.
For toddlers and preschoolers, try songs with repetitive verses and hand motions—they’ll be singing along in no time. This YouTube playlist is filled with family-friendly Hanukkah tunes!
Traditional Hanukkah Foods
Food is such an important part of celebrating with young kids! Along with latkes and sufganiyot (traditional jelly-filled donuts), many families enjoy other traditional foods during the Hanukkah celebration, often tied to family recipes and regional customs.
You can use this as an opportunity to talk about Jewish religious practices, the role of food in holidays, and how cooking with great care can be part of honoring tradition.
Making these Hanukkah foods doesn’t have to be complicated! Our family makes latkes each year using a store bought mix and we serve them with sour cream, applesauce and brisket.
The Star of David
The Star of David—a six-pointed star—is a widely recognized Jewish symbol. While it isn’t specific only to Hanukkah, you’ll often see it used in decorations during the holiday season. Crafting your own Star of David from popsicle sticks and paint is a simple, kid-friendly project that can help make this Jewish tradition more tangible for little ones.
Helping Kids Understand the Symbols of Hanukkah
Explaining these Hanukkah symbols to young children works best when you connect the stories and traditions to something hands-on. Try:
- Letting them help with the lighting of the menorah
- Playing dreidel as a family
- Read some special Hanukkah books together (these are some of our favorite Hanukkah books for kids)
- Cooking a batch of jelly-filled doughnuts together
- Creating crafts like paper Stars of David
- Listening to traditional songs while you cook or decorate
These small moments can help even the youngest kids start to understand the meaning behind each symbol while enjoying the holiday season as a whole.
Final Thoughts on the Symbols of Hanukkah for Kids
The symbols of Hanukkah are more than just decorations or fun activities: they’re touchpoints for sharing the story of Hanukkah and passing down traditions from one generation to the next. Whether it’s lighting the Hanukkah menorah, spinning the dreidel, or savoring the taste of foods fried in olive oil, each element carries history, meaning, and joy.
For young children, learning about these traditions can spark curiosity, kindness, and an appreciation for different cultures—something worth celebrating during this Festival of Lights and beyond.
Happy Hanukkah from all of us at Mimosas & Motherhood®!
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