Hanukkha Festival Reading

Teepakorn Umathorn 8 2 2
Read UK: Hanukkah – text

What do you know about Hanukkah? Find out how the Jewish Festival of Lights is celebrated in the
UK.
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah (or Chanuka) is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It lasts for eight days and is usually celebrated in
November or December. Hanukkah traditions include lighting candles, giving presents, playing games and
eating food fried in oil, like doughnuts or potato pancakes.
Special candles
The traditional Hanukkah candle holder is called a Hanukkah menorah or hanukkiah and it has been used
as a Jewish symbol since ancient times. A Hanukkah menorah has nine candles which are lit at night-time
during Hanukkah.
In London you can see a giant menorah lit up with candles for the Hanukkah London event, in celebration
of the Jewish Festival of Lights. This huge menorah in Trafalgar Square is installed close to the Christmas
tree for a truly multicultural winter celebration.
Playing dreidel
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each one of its sides. Playing with the dreidel
is a traditional Hanukkah game played in Jewish homes in Britain and all over the world, and rules may
vary from family to family. There are various games you can play with the dreidel. The games involve
spinning the top and placing bets (often using coins, raisins or matchsticks) on which letter shows when
the top stops spinning and falls over.
Food
Fried food is traditional at Hanukkah. Latkes are fried pancakes made with potatoes, onions, eggs, flour
and oil. Jam-filled doughnuts are another popular Hanukkah treat. Dairy food such as cheese and
cheesecake are also traditionally eaten at this festival.
Presents and cards

It’s traditional to give presents or money to family and friends at Hanukkah. Hanukkah Gelt refers to money
given as a gift at the festival. ‘Gelt’ is the Yiddish word for money. Children are often given chocolate coins
wrapped in gold foil.
People also give Hanukkah greetings cards. The cards often show a picture of a menorah or dreidel. One
UK online greetings cards company even combines Christmas (December) and Hanukkah
(November/December) to make a card with the greeting ‘Very Merry Chrismukkah wishes’!
Happy Hanukkah!
Read UK: Hanukkah – exercises
Do the preparation task first. Then read the article about Hanukkah and do the exercises.
Preparation
Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–f next to the numbers 1–6.
1……..
b a doughnut a. a long thing made of wax that can burn and give out light
2……..
a a candle b. a sweet, round, fried food
3……..
f a greetings card c. a toy that can spin around very fast
4……..
c a spinning top d. a type of food made from milk (e.g. cheese, butter)
5……..
d dairy food e. an old Jewish language
a piece of paper with pictures and a message; you give it to

6……..
e Yiddish f.
somebody on a special day
1. Check your understanding: true or false

Circle True or False for these sentences.
1. Hanukkah is eight days long. True False
2. Hanukkah is celebrated in December every year. True False
3. Jewish people light candles at night-time during Hanukkah. True False
In London you can see symbols for Christmas and Hanukkah in Trafalgar
4. True False
Square.
5. Playing with the driedel is a traditional Christmas game. True False
6. Latkes are a type of doughnut. True False
7. It is traditional to eat food cooked in oil at Hanukkah. True False
8. People give gifts and cards at Hanukkah. True False

2. Check your understanding: gap fill
Complete the sentences with words from the box.
greetings cards Lights November doughnuts
Christmas tree four games nine
1. lights
The Jewish Festival of _______________ is called Hanukkah.
2. november
Hanukkah is usually celebrated in _______________ or December.
3. nine
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, usually has _______________ candles.
4. christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah every year in Trafalgar Square in London.
There is a _______________
5. four
A driedel has _______________ sides.
6. games
People play _______________ with a dreidel at Hanukkah.
7. doughnuts
Jam-filled _______________ are eaten at Hanukkah.
8. greetings cards
You can buy online Hanukkah _______________.
3. Check your grammar: prepositions – multiple choice

Circle the best preposition to complete these sentences.
1. Hanukkah lasts for / in / at eight days.
2. The Jewish Festival of Lights is usually celebrated in / on / at November or December.
3. The candles are lit in / at / on night-time.
4. Trafalgar Square is on / in / at London.
5. A dreidel has Hebrew letters on / in / for each of its sides.
6. Cheese and cheesecake are also traditionally eaten on / at / by Hanukkah.
7. People often give presents to / in / on family and friends.
8. Children get chocolate coins wrapped in / by / on gold foil.
Discussion
Do people celebrate Hanukkah where you live?

Hanukkha Festival Reading

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Teepakorn Umathorn 8 2 2

Read UK: Hanukkah – text

Presents and cards

a piece of paper with pictures and a message; you give it to

1. Check your understanding: true or false

1. Hanukkah is eight days long. True False

2. Hanukkah is celebrated in December every year. True False

3. Jewish people light candles at night-time during Hanukkah. True False

5. Playing with the driedel is a traditional Christmas game. True False

6. Latkes are a type of doughnut. True False

7. It is traditional to eat food cooked in oil at Hanukkah. True False

8. People give gifts and cards at Hanukkah. True False

greetings cards Lights November doughnuts

Christmas tree four games nine

3. Check your grammar: prepositions – multiple choice

1. Hanukkah lasts for / in / at eight days.

2. The Jewish Festival of Lights is usually celebrated in / on / at November or December.

3. The candles are lit in / at / on night-time.

4. Trafalgar Square is on / in / at London.

5. A dreidel has Hebrew letters on / in / for each of its sides.

6. Cheese and cheesecake are also traditionally eaten on / at / by Hanukkah.

7. People often give presents to / in / on family and friends.

8. Children get chocolate coins wrapped in / by / on gold foil.

Do people celebrate Hanukkah where you live?

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