Celebrating Hanukkah with Favorite Family Recipes (2024)

Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to learn more about Hanukkah celebrations and find recipes for latkes and other treats. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.

Holidays are often religious and family events. For many people, holidays also mean food. Holiday meals are often born of tradition, either via family or society, with recipes handed down through the generations. Family members look forward to eating these special-occasion foods year after year.

What foods do you look forward to during Hanukkah? Chances are potato latkes topped with sour cream or applesauce is a favorite for you this time of the year.

Hanukkah

This year, Hanukkah begins on 24 December 2016 and ends on 1 January 2017. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication. It celebrates the miracle that occurred during the rededication of the temple by the Maccabees in 165 BC. With only enough oil to light the temple’s menorah for one day, the menorah stayed lit for eight days. In honor of that miracle, Hanukkah is observed for eight days and nights starting on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.

Hanukkah usually occurs sometime between late November and late December. During the holiday, one candle on the menorah is lit each night for a total of eight candles (the ninth candle, the shamash, found in the middle of the menorah, is used to light the other candles).

You can learn more about Hanukkah from this 1940 newspaper article.

Historical newspapers provide us with many opportunities to understand our family’s life. From reports on holiday gatherings to traditional recipes, newspaper articles help you find facts about your ancestor’s life and learn what life was like during their time and place. You can learn more about Hanukkah celebrations in GenealogyBank’s Jewish American Newspaper Archives.

Families Sharing Latkes

One of my friends held a latke party for Hanukkah every year. She spent the day frying up dozens upon dozens of potato latkes and then invited everyone to come over and eat latkes, play with dreidels, share family traditions, and enjoy each other’s company.

For those who are not familiar with the food and activities of Hanukkah, this 1958 newspaper article shares a family’s latke-making activities. This article features the Penn family of Richmond, Virginia. Included are photos of Mrs. Sam Penn cooking latkes and assisting daughter Joy with lighting the menorah. Interestingly, the newspaper reporter comments that latkes are made from potato but “creamed canned corn” can be substituted.

A recipe for potato latkes is included, with the suggestion of topping them with sour cream, strawberry jam, applesauce, or cinnamon and sugar.

Note: For those of you interested in cooking, all the recipes mentioned in the newspaper articles below are enlarged and reprinted at the end of this blog article.

Potato Latkes and More

During Hanukkah, fried foods like latkes and doughnuts play an important part in the observance. Latkes are typically potato pancakes (though they can be made out of other ingredients) that you can top with sour cream or apple sauce. I love latkes and newspapers provide recipes that can be used at this year’s Hanukkah gatherings.

I’ve had my share of potato latkes, but a search through newspaper food columns finds recipes for latkes made out of other ingredients such as dairy and vegetables. This 1969 newspaper article includes recipes for cheese and raisin latkes. The cheese in this recipe is cottage cheese, but I’ve also seen cheese latke recipes calling for ricotta cheese.

Besides eating fried foods, eating cheese is also associated with Hanukkah. It stems from the story of the heroine Judith who saved her village from the invading Assyrian army by feeding the General salty cheese and lots of wine to quench his thirst – and then when he was passed out she took off his head with his own sword.*

This 1988 newspaper article provides great step-by-step instructions for not only making potato latkes, but also cheese latkes made of ricotta, Sufganiyot (Israeli doughnuts), and dreidel butter cookies. Potato latkes (sometimes referred to as potato pancakes) are a great edition to any meal, including breakfast.

What other types of latkes could you make? When I looked online I found recipe articles for 20+ different types of latkes. If you’re into experimenting with food, you can find various latke recipes in the newspaper. For example, here’s a recipe for Pineapple Latkes.

What Are You Serving for Hanukkah?

If you’re celebrating Hanukkah this year, are you having a latke party for 50 or hosting a small family dinner? Either way, the newspaper provides some great recipes for latkes, doughnuts, and other Hanukkah favorites.

Recipes

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* “Discover the History of Latkes During Hanukkah,” PBS Food (http://www.pbs.org/food/features/history-of-latkes/: accessed 9 December 2016.)

Celebrating Hanukkah with Favorite Family Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is one food families like to eat for Hanukkah? ›

Latkes. These fried potato pancakes are possibly the best-known Hanukkah food. The oil used to fry them is a commemoration of the oil in the temple lamps. Made of shredded potatoes and onions much like hash browns, they're traditionally topped with applesauce and served as a side dish.

Do you celebrate Hanukkah with family? ›

No matter how you spell it, Chanukah is a time for family and celebration. For the loved ones who are no longer with us, we cherish their memories and hold them in our hearts. The lights of Hanukkah and the sparkle of the holiday season can still shine bright with hope for the New Year.

What is a good Hanukkah menu? ›

A Traditional Menu for Hanukkah
  • 01 of 12. Potato Latkes I. View Recipe. ...
  • 02 of 12. Spiced Slow Cooker Applesauce. View Recipe. ...
  • 03 of 12. Applesauce. ...
  • 04 of 12. Most Amazing Challah. ...
  • 05 of 12. Wine-Braised Beef Brisket. ...
  • 06 of 12. Salmon with Lemon and Dill. ...
  • 07 of 12. Crispy Rosemary Chicken and Fries. ...
  • 08 of 12. Roasted Green Beans.
Oct 21, 2020

What foods Cannot be eaten during Hanukkah? ›

"Among other rules, eating certain animals, primarily pigs and shellfish, is forbidden; meat must be ritually and humanely slaughtered; and dairy and meat aren't to be eaten at the same meal." Fish and plant foods are "neutral" (parve) and can be eaten with either meat or dairy.

How do you host a Hanukkah dinner? ›

The Ultimate Hanukkah Party Hosting Guide
  1. Create a latke bar with different types of toppings and sauces. ...
  2. Hanukkah is all about light, so make that the focus of your decor. ...
  3. Vibe out to our Hanukkah playlist – it's LIT. ...
  4. Organize a “friendly” dreidel tournament with small prizes for the winners.
Dec 11, 2023

Can you eat meat on Hanukkah? ›

A perfect Hanukkah meal might start with matzoh ball soup, have a traditional brisket at the center and a stack of potato latkes on the side. If brisket is not your thing, a simple roasted chicken would serve very nicely, too.

What food is a symbol of Hanukkah? ›

Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a favorite Hanukkah food. They are fried in oil, which reminds Jews of the oil in the menorah. Latkes are often served with applesauce.

What do you drink on Hanukkah? ›

Hanukkah / Chanukah Drink Recipe Collection
  • Hebrew Hammer.
  • Mulled Pear and Ginger co*cktail.
  • Aperol Schvitz.
  • Spiced Clementine Sour.
  • Olive Oil Gin Sour.
  • Sababa.
  • Hot Toddy with Spiced Rum.
  • Jelly Donut co*cktail.
Oct 31, 2023

What is not allowed on Hanukkah? ›

It is permitted to work; however it is customary for women not to work for at least the first half hour of the candles' burning, and some have the custom not to work for the entire time of burning. The types of activities that are forbidden are things like sewing and laundry etc. (Cooking is permitted.)

Is it OK to tell someone Happy Hanukkah? ›

The traditional greeting in English for Hanukkah is "Happy Hanukkah," but in Hebrew, one can say "Chag Sameach" (Happy Holiday) or "Chag Hanukkah Sameach" (Happy Hanukkah). "You can wish someone a happy Hanukkah by saying chag sameach, which is pronounced [ khag sah-meh-ahkh ]," according to thesaurus.com.

How does a family celebrate Hanukkah? ›

The basic observances are simple and approachable, like lighting the menorah, eating foods with oil (to commemorate the miracle of the oil for the lamp lasting 8 days), and songs that are simple — all things you can do at home.

What should a guest bring to Hanukkah dinner? ›

Hanukkah Gifts For A Host Or Hostess
  1. Dreidel And Gelt. This isn't just for the kids to play. ...
  2. Wine. Bringing wine to a party is a great idea. ...
  3. Hanukkah-Themed Flowers. Share the joy of Hanukkah by bringing the host an arrangement of blue and white flowers. ...
  4. Comestibles. ...
  5. Unusual Gifts.
Dec 6, 2012

Is there a Hanukkah dinner? ›

Meaty Main Dishes

The star dish for many Hanukkah dinner tables is brisket. It's a show-stopping centerpiece that's as classic as it gets, which is why we love it. For something a little different but equally as fitting, we also love a wintery braise filled with semolina dumplings.

What are two fried treats served during Hanukkah? ›

In America, Hanukkah food typically refers to two things: latkes, Eastern European fried potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, jelly-filled doughnuts that are favored in Israel and increasingly popular here.

What do people eat on the first night of Hanukkah? ›

Latkes, jelly doughnuts and brisket: Inside Jewish Hanukkah food traditions. Just before the first night of Hanukkah, Alexander Chack made latkes.

What do children receive during Hanukkah? ›

Many families give their kids a chatchka (a Yiddish word meaning “small gift”) for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.

What is a traditional Hanukkah gift? ›

The most traditional gift for Hanukkah is gelt, which is Yiddish for “money” — given either in the form of real money or wrapped chocolate coins. These can be used to play the popular Hanukkah game, dreidel.

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