boys lighting candles

Read about Hanukkah then do the exercises to help you practise your reading in English.

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Reading text

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It lasts for eight days. It is usually celebrated in November or December.

A menorah and dreidels

Candles

People light candles at Hanukkah. The light one candle every evening. The special Hanukkah candle holder is called a Hanukkah menorah. It has nine candles.

Games

Some families play a traditional game called 'dreidel'. The dreidel has four sides and there is a different Hebrew letter on each side. Spin the dreidel and see which letter you get!

Food

People make special pancakes at this time of year. The pancakes are made with potatoes, onions, eggs, flour and oil. People also eat delicious jam doughnuts.

Presents

Families and friends give each other presents and money at Hanukkah. Children sometimes get chocolate coins. People also give cards that often have pictures of a menorah or a dreidel.

Fun facts

  • There are nine candles in a Hanukkah menorah. The candle in the middle in the middle is used to light the other eight.
  • There are different ways to write 'Hanukkah', for example 'Chanukah' and 'Hannukah'!

Happy Hanukkah!
 

Discussion

Have you got a favourite festival? Tell us about it!

Average: 2.3 (6 votes)

Submitted by PerfectCrystal500 on Fri, 19/01/2024 - 00:21

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I like the festival

Submitted by SingingNeverSchool on Sun, 13/02/2022 - 14:48

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My favorite is Tet, my family often decorates lovely shapes and related to Tet it is made from sakura paper, in addition to things with funny and loving shapes, my family buys more flowers. peaches to decorate beautifully. Tet, people often go to their maternal and paternal hometown to come and wish them a happy new year. Children will receive lucky money from grandparents. During Tet, the traditional food of Tet is cake. Chung (Banh chung is very delicious) At night we often go out to watch the fireworks display, which is very beautiful. I love Tet

Submitted by WhiteMonkeyPlayer on Sat, 19/12/2020 - 01:33

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My favorite festival is my birthday. My birthday is on 19th of January. On my birthday when I wake up I usually see some balloons. I always receive the dinosaur balloons. When I go to the bathroom I can see some balloons there too. There are always lots of balloons all over my house for my birthday. In the afternoon my parents can take me and my friends out for fun. In the evening we usually go to the restaurant to celebrate my birthday and eat lots of delicious food. I always get a big birthday cake, that is so yummy! After we eat the cake, we come back home and play till nine O'clock. Next day when I wake up I see some money and birthday cards with some wishes written by my parents. I love my birthday because I can feel special!

Submitted by BlueNatureForest on Thu, 19/11/2020 - 14:06

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My favorite festival is my birthday. I like it because, I am the most importante person of that day and I recive presents.

Submitted by GreenRose300 on Sat, 14/11/2020 - 20:11

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My favorite festival is Tet. There are delicious Banh Chung and Banh Tet. Children get lucky money from adults. And at night there are beautiful firework!

Submitted by RubyCushionGarden on Thu, 27/08/2020 - 16:40

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My favorite festival is Labor Day, because it has longest holiday, we have less homework, and Mom and Dad take me out for fun.

Submitted by AgentVelocirap… on Thu, 13/08/2020 - 08:08

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Hi my name is vihari my favorite festival is holi i am a hindu

Submitted by EmeraldFairyGrass on Thu, 23/07/2020 - 14:23

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I really like Eid and Muslims celebrate it

Submitted by MisterDoctorCo… on Sun, 09/02/2020 - 06:52

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I love Chinese New Year

Submitted by QueenFairyDrum on Tue, 02/07/2019 - 08:13

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My favourite festival is Eid and Muslims celebrate it. Eid comes after Ramadan. Before Eid day at midnight all the girls go out for henna and it is called chand raat. On the first day of Eid everyone gets ready and then kids get money(eidi) from adults. On the second day of Eid people go out to meet their friends and family. On the third day of Eid people go to the malls and parks. I love Eid.

Submitted by CutePearl2 on Tue, 28/05/2019 - 15:35

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My favorite festival is Tet.In Tet festival we decorate our home with Sakura paper and Apricot paper. We make Banh Chung (Banh Chung is very yummy) .Children get lucky money. Like lucky money. At night we watch firework. Firework is very pretty.

Submitted by QueenMoonstone… on Sun, 22/03/2020 - 05:04

In reply to by QueenFairyDrum

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Hi QueenFairyDrum Tet is an important Holiday in Vietnam. It's like celebrating New Year .

Submitted by SingingNeverSchool on Sun, 13/02/2022 - 14:36

In reply to by QueenFairyDrum

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Hi QueenFairyDrum Tet is the traditional custom of Vietnam, Korea, China and Taiwan

Submitted by LadySitarPiano on Sun, 24/06/2018 - 03:18

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I love me birthday .

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