Chanukkah Trivia: 75 Questions With Answers, How Many Can You Get Right?

Isobel Murphy
Dec 12, 2023 By Isobel Murphy
Originally Published on Jan 11, 2021
Candles and Hanukkah celebration concept

Chanukkah (also known as Hanukkah) is a Jewish holiday that is a special and exciting time to be with family and friends.

Hanukkah is an eight day Jewish holiday that is celebrated by millions of Jewish people around the world. Traditionally celebrated with the lighting of candles, delicious food, family games, and a lot of love and warmth, families love the holiday.

Hanukkah usually falls in the months at the end of the year, November and December. It signifies a miracle from the Jewish religion, when after reclaiming the Holy Temple of Jerusalem that had been conquered by the Assyrian Greeks Jewish people found only one vial of oil, but that little amount of oil burned for eight whole days.

Hanukkah is eight days long to represent this.

Hanukkah Facts And History Quiz

This Jewish festival has a rich history and background. It all started when the Maccabees revolted against the Antiochus IV Epiphanes and won. They then rededicated the second temple of Jerusalem.

Hanukkah is a traditional festival celebrated over the years with unique traditions worldwide. This fun quiz will give you some exciting information about Hanukkah and its history. Gather your family members, start the questionnaire, and find out if you can get them all correct!

1. Question: What is Hanukkah also called?

Answer: Hanukkah is also called The Festival of Lights or The Feast Of Dedication.

2. Question: For how many days is Hanukkah celebrated?

Answer: Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights.

3. Question: What does Hanukkah mean?

Answer: The Hebrew word Hanukkah means dedication.

4. Question: Where is the world's largest Hanukkah menorah situated?

Answer: It is situated at Grand Army Plaza in New York.

5. Question: Where does the word Hanukkah originate from?

Answer: It originates from the Hebrew word Hinuch, meaning to teach.

6. Question: Apart from Hanukkah, what are two other Jewish holidays?

Answer: Other Jewish holidays include Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah.

7. Question: Who was the first president to celebrate Hanukkah at the White House?

Answer: The first president to celebrate this Jewish holiday was Harry Truman.

8. Question: True or false? There are about sixteen ways to spell the word Hanukkah.

Answer: False, According to the Oxford English Dictionary, there are 24 spellings for Hanukkah.

9. Question: True or false? Chanukah is a Hebrew word.

Answer: True.

10. Question: What is the name of the fried potato pancakes that are often eaten during Hanukkah?

Answer: Latkes.

11. Question: Why is Judith known as the Heroine of The Torah?

Answer: Judith was a young Jewish widow who bravely killed the top General of the Assyrian army, Holofernes, and helped the Israeli army launch a surprise attack.

12. Question: What is the money given as presents during the festival of Chanukah referred to as?

Answer: Chanukah Gelt is the money given as gifts or presents during Hanukkah.

13. Question: What is Shamash?

Answer: It is the very first candle that is lit to light the other candles.

14. Question: What does the word 'shamash' mean?

Answer: It means helper, as the Shamash is used to light the other eight candles.

15. Question: A great miracle happened on the day of rededication. What was it?

Answer: The amount of oil available to light the candle was very little. This amount could last only for a night and not eight nights. A great miracle happened when the oil lasted for eight nights.

16. Question: Name the round jelly doughnuts enjoyed especially during Chanukah.

Answer: Sufganiyot.

17. Question: When does the Jewish festival of Hanukkah begin?

Answer: The Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar.

18. Question: True or false? Traditionally, the women of the house must rest until the candle flame burns out.

Answer: True.

Hanukkah Trivia About The Dreidel, Menorah And More

The dreidel and menorah are two important items during Hanukkah, but how much do you know about them? Check out these interesting Hanukkah facts to test your knowledge of this Jewish holiday!

19. Question: What is a Hanukkah menorah?

Answer: It is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day festival of Chanukah.

20. Question: Who developed the modern-day chocolate gelt?

Answer: Loft's, an American candy company, developed the modern-day chocolate gelt.

21. Question: The first chocolate gelt was produced in which decade?

Answer: The first chocolate gelt was produced in the 1920's.

22. Question: Name two games similar to the dreidel.

Answer: Christmastime and teetotum.

23. Question: Name a traditional game played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Answer: The game of dreidel is a Jewish game played during Hanukkah.

24. Question: What is a dreidel?

Answer: A dreidel is a spinning top with the Hebrew letters Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin inscribed.

25. Question: What do the letters Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin stand for?

Answer: The Hebrew letters Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin stand for Nes gadol haya sham. Thich can be translated to "a great miracle happened there," referring to the miracle which Hanukkah is centered around.

26. Question: What does Nes gadol haya sham mean?

Answer: It means A miracle happened there.

27. Question: When do Jews light the menorah?

Answer: The first candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah.

28. Question: What is the order in which you light the candles on the menorah?

Answer: The first candle is placed on the first branch on the right side, then a candle to the left of the most recently lit candle is lit each night.

29. Question: Which oil is traditionally used to light the menorah?

Answer: Olive oil is used.

30. Question: True or false? According to the Jewish religion, eight candle holders should be of the same high, and the far right candle holder should be higher than the rest.

Answer: True.

31. Question: Which city hosts dreidel tournaments during Hanukkah?

Answer: New York City hosts dreidel tournaments during the festival of Hanukkah.

32. Question: What is the biggest difference between the Israeli dreidel and other dreidels?

Answer: The Hebrew letter Shin is replaced with the letter Po, on the Israeli dreidel, which translates into "a miracle happened here", instead of "a miracle happened there".

33. Question: How many candles are lit in a menorah during Hanukkah?

Answer: Eight candles are lit in a menorah, with an additional light used to light these candles.

34. Question: What do Jewish children win by spinning the dreidel?

Answer: Children win gelts by spinning the dreidel.

Around The World With Hanukkah Facts For Kids

Jewish people celebrate this festival all around the world. Each country has different traditions, all with something special to offer during this Jewish holiday.

Learn more about this festival by answering these questions about Hanukkah food facts, facts about Hanukkah history, and other interesting things about Hanukkah. You will also find a few questions about menorah facts too! How many can you get right?

35. Question: How do Afghan Jews celebrate this Jewish holiday?

Answer: Instead of lighting eight candles, they fill eight plates of olive oil and set them beside each other.

36. Question: Where do the Algerians place their menorahs?

Answer: Algerians hang their menorahs on walls near their doorways.

37. Question: What do Australians do to celebrate this Jewish festival?

Answer: They host large family gatherings and parties to light the candles, followed by a day of celebrations and festivities.

38. Question: When did Canadians celebrate the first Hanukkah?

Answer: The first Hanukkah was celebrated in Canada in the year 1760.

39. Question: How do Canadians celebrate Hanukkah?

Answer: Canadians celebrate Chanukkah by exchanging gifts and eating traditional home-cooked food.

40. Question: Where did Jewish people first arrive in China?

Answer: They first arrived in Kaifeng, China.

41. Question: What did Kaifeng Jews do to celebrate Hanukkah when they first arrived in China?

Answer: They built a synagogue and hosted gatherings to celebrate Hanukkah.

42. Question: What do Colombian Jews eat during this Jewish holiday?

Answer: During this festival of lights, Colombians eat fried plantains called 'patacones'.

43. Question: Where is a huge menorah lit up in England during Chanukkah?

Answer: A huge menorah is lit up at London's Trafalgar Square during the eight-day festival of Hanukkah.

44. Question: In which part of the world is a double-decker menorah used?

Answer: A double-decker menorah is used in Alsace, a region in France.

45. Question: Why is the double-decker menorah used?

Answer: So the father and son can light a candle each day.

46. Question: True or false? A large menorah is lit in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate during Hanukkah.

Answer: True.

47. Question: What is the name of the festival hosted in Budapest during Hanukkah?

Answer: Quarter6Quarter7 is a festival with concerts and great food.

48. Question: How many times is the festival Quarter6Quarter7 held in Budapest?

Answer: Quarter6Quarter7 is held twice a year, during Chanukkah and during Passover.

49. Question: How many synagogues are there in India?

Answer: There are currently 33 synagogues in India.

50. Question: Which oil is used by the Indian Jewish community to light the menorah?

Answer: Coconut oil is used by the Indian Jewish community to light the menorah.

51. Question: Name a sweet treat made especially in India during Chanukah?

Answer: Barfi is a sweet treat made of milk and fruits, it is especially enjoyed during Chanukah.

52. Question: How tall is the menorah at the Piazza Barberini in Italy?

Answer: Italians set up a 20 feet tall menorah at Piazza Barberini to celebrate Hanukkah.

53. Question: What do Italians traditionally dine on during Hanukkah?

Answer: Frittelle de Chanukah is one of the most important delicacies prepared by Italian Jews, especially during Hanukkah.

54. Question: Can you name the citrus-flavored donuts made during the Jewish festival?

Answer: Sfenj is a citrus-flavored donut made from the famous Jaffa oranges.

55. Question: Where is Russia's largest menorah located?

Answer: Russia's largest menorah is located at Revolution Square, Moscow.

56. Question: Can you name the unique song written in honor of Hanukkah by Turkish Jews?

Answer: 'Ocho Candelas,' also known as 'Ocho Kandelikas,' is a unique song written in honor of Hanukkah.

57. Question: 'Ocho Candelas' is written in which dialect?

Answer: 'Ocho Candelas' is written in the Ladino dialect.

58. Question: Burmelos is a delicacy from which country?

Answer: Burmelos is a Turkish delicacy.

59. Question: True or false? Hannah and Judith are known as the Heroines of Torah Study.

Answer: True.

60. Question: Sfenj is a delicacy from which country?

Answer: Sfenj is a tasty delicacy from Morocco.

61. Question: How many blessings are said on the first night of Hanukkah?

Answer: 3

62. Question: Are the Hanukkah candles lit from right to left or left to right?

Answer: Right to left

63. Question: What cooking is traditionally used to prepare Hanukkah dishes?

Answer: Frying

64. Question: What American holiday does Hanukkah sometimes overlap with?

Answer: Thanksgiving

65. Question: Which Hanukkah toy was used as a decoy after learning the Torah was outlawed?

Answer: The dreidel

66. Question: What colors are associated with Hanukkah?

Answer: Blue, white, and sometimes silver

67. Question: What is the name of the astronaut who celebrated Hanukkah in outer space?

Answer: Jeff Hoffman

68. Question: Which oil is traditionally used to light the menorah?

Answer: Olive oil

69. Question: True or False: Gift-giving is a long-standing Hanukkah tradition.

Answer: False

70. Question: Which day of the week can Hanukkah NOT begin on?

Answer: Tuesday

71. Question: Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a traditional food served at Hanukkah. Before latkes were made of potatoes, what were they primarily made of?

Answer: Cheese

72. Question: Hanukkah is known as The Festival of Lights. What other title is it sometimes referred to as?

Answer: The Festival of Dedication

73. Question: What does the word "Hanukkah" translate to?

Answer: "Inauguration" in English and "Dedication" in Hebrew

74. Question: Which act is prohibited during the eight nights of Hanukkah?

Answer: Fasting

75. Question: Who was the first US president to light a menorah?

Answer: Bill Clinton

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

Sources

https://www.ultimatequizquestions.com/hanukkah-trivia-questions/

https://party.lovetoknow.com/party-games-activities/25-hanukkah-trivia-questions-test-your-holiday-knowledge

See All

Written by Isobel Murphy

Bachelor of Arts specializing in History

Isobel Murphy picture

Isobel MurphyBachelor of Arts specializing in History

With a love for exploring cities and finding outdoor spaces to enjoy, Isobel has spent her life exploring various cities in the UK, from her hometown of Surrey to Birmingham where she studied history for three years. She is passionate about sports and enjoys watching and playing, as well as baking and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Read full bio >