About Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is the eight-night Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE, after the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. The central miracle of Hanukkah is the small quantity of consecrated oil — enough for one night — that miraculously burned for eight days. This is why the holiday is observed for eight nights, with one additional candle of the menorah (or hanukkiah) lit each evening.
Hanukkah falls on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which lands anywhere from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12.
Traditional observances include lighting the menorah each night, reciting blessings, eating foods fried in oil — most famously latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) — playing the dreidel spinning-top game, and giving children small gifts or gelt (chocolate coins, originally real money). Hanukkah is generally a home-centered holiday, and gatherings range from intimate family dinners to large community celebrations.
A Note on Spelling: Hanukkah vs Chanukah
Because the holiday's name comes from Hebrew (חֲנֻכָּה), there is no single "correct" English transliteration. Hanukkah is the most common spelling in modern American usage, while Chanukah reflects the guttural chet sound at the start of the Hebrew word and is preferred in many Orthodox and traditional communities. Hanukah, Chanukkah, and Hannukah are also seen. None is wrong. For invitations, simply pick the spelling your family or community uses and remain consistent.
Tone and Language Conventions
Hanukkah invitations are typically warm and joyful rather than solemn. Common phrases and references include:
- "Chag Sameach" (חַג שָׂמֵחַ) — "Happy holiday," the standard Hebrew greeting.
- "Chag Urim Sameach" — "Happy Festival of Lights," a more specific Hanukkah greeting.
- "Happy Hanukkah" — perfectly appropriate in any English context.
- References to candles, the menorah/hanukkiah, dreidel, latkes, sufganiyot, gelt, and the miracle of oil.
Tone can range from traditional and reverent (for first-night candle-lighting dinners with extended family) to playful (for a dreidel-themed party with friends). Both are within the spirit of the holiday.
Hanukkah Invitation Wording Examples
Traditional first-night family dinner
The Rosenberg Family
invites you to celebrate the
First Night of Hanukkah
Friday, December 4, 2026
Candle lighting at 5:30 PM
Dinner to follow
1408 Brookline Avenue
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brisket, latkes, and applesauce
Sufganiyot for dessert
Please bring an appetite —
and the children, if they're up for it
RSVP by November 28
sarah.rosenberg@email.com
Modern Chanukah celebration
Eight Crazy Nights — Night Three! 🕎
Come light candles with us
Sunday, December 6, 2026
6:00 PM
The Cohen-Martinez residence
244 Linden Place, Brooklyn
On the menu:
Latkes (sweet potato + classic) • brisket sliders
Hanukkah cookies • hot toddy bar
We provide the candles and the menu
You bring yourself (and dreidel-spinning skills)
Chag Sameach!
Latke party with friends
It's the Annual Latke Throwdown
Bring your best latke
We'll judge them by candlelight
Saturday, December 5, 2026
4:00 PM
The Greenberg apartment
text Jess for the buzzer code
Categories:
Most traditional • most creative • spiciest
Winner takes home golden gelt
We're providing the menorah, the dreidels,
the brisket, and the sufganiyot
You bring your latkes (and an opinion)
Eight nights, one champion. Game on.
Community Hanukkah gathering
Congregation Beth Shalom
warmly invites the community to our
Annual Hanukkah Celebration
Sunday, December 6, 2026
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Beth Shalom Social Hall
522 Oakwood Road
Public menorah lighting at 5:00 PM
Followed by a community latke dinner
Live klezmer music • children's craft station
Dreidel tournament • sufganiyot bar
$10 suggested donation per family
No one turned away
Chag Urim Sameach!
Kid-focused dreidel party
Nes Gadol Haya Sham! ✨
(A great miracle happened there)
Eli is turning 6 and we're celebrating
with a Hanukkah dreidel party!
Saturday, December 12, 2026
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
1208 Maplewood Drive
Dreidel games • menorah crafts
Mini latke bites • gelt galore
Hanukkah-themed birthday cake
RSVP by December 5
rachel@email.com
Interfaith household Hanukkah-and-friends evening
Latkes, Light, and Long Tables
Join us for a Hanukkah dinner
with our chosen family
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
6:30 PM
The Levi-Park home
312 Cedar Lane
A relaxed dinner • candle lighting
followed by storytelling around the table
Bring nothing but yourselves
(or a bottle of wine if you must)
Chag Sameach from our family to yours
What to Include on a Hanukkah Invitation
- The night of Hanukkah you're celebrating. First night, last night, or "any night during" — specifying helps guests understand the significance.
- Candle-lighting time. Traditionally done after nightfall. Many invitations list the exact lighting time so guests arrive in time to participate.
- Whether kids are invited. Hanukkah is family-centric, but adult-only latke parties are also a thing. Be explicit.
- Food expectations. Hanukkah meals are heavy on oil-fried foods. Let guests know what's on the menu — and whether contributions are welcome.
- Dreidel, gelt, or gift exchange. If you're including any of these traditions, mention so guests can prepare.
- RSVP details. Especially important for latke dinners — frying latkes for an uncertain crowd is a hosting nightmare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I invite non-Jewish friends to a Hanukkah celebration?
Many Jewish families do, especially for the more casual nights of the eight-night holiday. The home-based, hospitable nature of Hanukkah makes it well-suited for sharing the tradition with friends of other faiths. The first night, with its more formal candle-lighting and family dinner, is typically reserved for closer family.
Do guests bring gifts?
Gift-giving on Hanukkah is more recent and more modest than the Christmas tradition it sometimes parallels. Adults rarely exchange gifts beyond gelt; children sometimes receive a small gift each of the eight nights. For a Hanukkah party invitation, "no gifts please" or "gelt for the kids welcome" is appropriate phrasing.
Is it okay to combine Hanukkah and Christmas on a single invitation?
For interfaith households, yes — but keep the holidays distinct rather than blending them. A "Chrismukkah" framing can feel dismissive to traditional observers. Better to clearly note "celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas this year" with separate elements honored on the invitation.
Can I send a digital Hanukkah invitation?
Yes, and most families do — Hanukkah falls in a busy gift-giving and travel season, so digital invites with built-in RSVP tracking save time. Free tools like InviteDrop let you create a custom Hanukkah invitation with menorah imagery, blue and silver palettes, and easy guest management. Just be sure your spelling and any Hebrew phrasing match your family's preference.