Free Hanukkah Trivia Questions and Answers
45 Hanukkah trivia questions on the story, the menorah, the dreidel, latkes and the words of the holiday, from easy kids questions to hard ones. Play together on any of the eight nights, print a quiz, or share a round. Free, no sign-up.
10 questions in this round, from 45 that match.
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Questions and Answers
All 45 Hanukkah trivia questions and answers
Every question in the game above, with its answer. Kids questions come first in each topic, then family, then hard. Reading them out loud? Hide the answers first.
The Hanukkah story
Which holy building did the Maccabees win back and rededicate? Kids
Answer: The Temple in Jerusalem. The Maccabees cleaned the Temple and rededicated it. That rededication is what Hanukkah celebrates.
The pure oil found in the Temple was only enough for how long? Kids
Answer: One day. They found just one small jar of pure olive oil, enough to light the menorah for a single night.
How long did the little jar of oil keep the menorah burning? Kids
Answer: Eight days. The oil lasted eight days, long enough to prepare new pure oil. That is why Hanukkah lasts eight days.
Who led the Jewish fighters in the Hanukkah story? Kids
Answer: Judah the Maccabee. Judah led a small band of Jewish fighters against a much larger army and drove it out of Jerusalem.
How big was the Maccabees' army compared to their enemy's? Kids
Answer: Much smaller. A small, poorly armed group defeated one of the mightiest armies of its time. Hanukkah prayers thank God for delivering the many into the hands of the few.
In the Hanukkah story, who ruled the land and tried to force Greek ways on the Jews? Family
Answer: The Syrian-Greeks. In the second century BCE, the Seleucid Syrian-Greeks tried to force Greek culture and beliefs on the Jewish people.
Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of which Hebrew month? Family
Answer: Kislev. Hanukkah starts on the eve of 25 Kislev. Because the Hebrew calendar follows the moon, its date on a regular calendar moves each year, usually landing in December.
Who was Judah Maccabee's father, the priest who began the revolt? Family
Answer: Mattathias. Mattathias (Mattityahu in Hebrew), a priest, rose up with his five sons. After his death, his son Judah led the fight.
The one jar of pure oil found in the Temple carried whose seal? Family
Answer: The High Priest's. The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) tells that the jar bore the seal of the High Priest, proving the oil was still pure.
Which Seleucid king's harsh decrees sparked the Maccabean revolt? Hard
Answer: Antiochus IV. Antiochus IV called himself Epiphanes, meaning "the visible god." His decrees against Jewish practice led to the revolt.
One explanation links "Maccabee" to the Hebrew word makav. What does makav mean? Hard
Answer: Hammer. Another well-known explanation says the name is an acronym of the verse "Who is like You among the mighty, O Lord" (Exodus 15:11).
One ancient account says the eight days echoed which festival the Jews had been unable to keep? Hard
Answer: Sukkot. The Second Book of Maccabees describes the first Hanukkah as a delayed eight-day Sukkot celebration, alongside the better-known story of the oil.
Menorah and candle trivia
How many candle holders does a Hanukkah menorah have? Kids
Answer: 9. There are eight lights for the eight nights, plus one more for the helper candle that lights the others.
What is the helper candle that lights the others called? Kids
Answer: Shamash. Shamash means attendant or helper. It usually sits apart from the other lights, often higher or off to the side.
Not counting the helper candle, how many candles are lit on the first night? Kids
Answer: 1. One light is added each night, so all eight are burning on the last night.
How many branches did the menorah in the ancient Temple have? Family
Answer: 7. The Temple menorah had seven branches, as described in Exodus 25. The Hanukkah menorah has nine lights.
In the common custom, which candle is lit first each night after the shamash? Family
Answer: The newest one added. Candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right, starting with the newest.
Where is the Hanukkah menorah traditionally placed? Family
Answer: In a window or doorway. The menorah is meant to share the miracle with the world, so it is placed where people passing by can see it.
On the Friday of Hanukkah, which candles are lit first? Family
Answer: Hanukkah candles. The Hanukkah lights are kindled before the Shabbat candles, using enough oil or wax to burn into the night.
Which blessing is added only on the first night of candle lighting? Family
Answer: Shehecheyanu. On the first night three blessings are said. Shehecheyanu thanks God for keeping us alive and bringing us to this season.
Not counting the shamash, how many candles are lit over all eight nights? Hard
Answer: 36. 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 36. Add a shamash each night and a box needs 44 candles.
In the Talmud, which school ruled to start with one light and add one each night? Hard
Answer: School of Hillel. The School of Shammai taught starting with eight and going down. Today the custom follows Hillel, increasing in light each night.
Hanukkah food trivia
Why do people eat foods fried in oil on Hanukkah? Kids
Answer: To recall the miracle of oil. Since the Hanukkah miracle involved oil, frying foods in oil is a tasty way to remember it.
Classic Eastern European latkes are made mostly from what? Kids
Answer: Potatoes. Potato latkes are crispy fried pancakes, a Hanukkah favorite from Eastern European Jewish kitchens.
What are sufganiyot? Kids
Answer: Jelly-filled doughnuts. Sufganiyot are fried in oil, which makes them a perfect Hanukkah treat.
Which pair are the classic toppings for potato latkes? Family
Answer: Applesauce or sour cream. Many families have a friendly debate every year over which topping is better.
In which country are jelly doughnuts the favorite Hanukkah treat? Family
Answer: Israel. In Israel the jelly doughnut, called a sufganiyah, is the best-loved Hanukkah treat, while latkes are the Eastern European classic.
Eating cheese on Hanukkah honors which brave heroine? Family
Answer: Judith. In the story, Judith (Yehudit) fed an enemy general salty cheese and wine, and her courage helped save her people.
Before potatoes, Hanukkah pancakes in Italy were often made with what? Hard
Answer: Cheese. Ricotta cheese pancakes first became a Hanukkah food in Italy and spread across Europe, linked to the custom of eating cheese in honor of Judith.
Potatoes, now key to latkes, first came from which part of the world? Hard
Answer: The Americas. Potatoes are native to the Americas. They became a staple in Eastern Europe only in the mid 1800s, so potato latkes are a fairly new tradition.
Dreidel trivia
How many sides with letters does a dreidel have? Kids
Answer: 4. Each of the four sides has a Hebrew letter, and the letter facing up decides your turn.
What kind of toy is a dreidel? Kids
Answer: A spinning top. Players spin it in turns and play for a pot of coins, nuts or chocolate.
In the classic dreidel game, what happens when you land on gimel? Kids
Answer: You take the whole pot. Gimel stands for the Yiddish word gantz, meaning everything. It is the best spin in the game.
Outside Israel, what phrase do the dreidel's four letters stand for? Family
Answer: A great miracle happened there. The letters nun, gimel, hei and shin stand for Nes Gadol Haya Sham.
On many dreidels made in Israel, which letter takes the place of shin? Family
Answer: Pei. Pei stands for po, meaning here, so the phrase becomes "A great miracle happened here."
In the classic dreidel game, what happens when you land on nun? Family
Answer: Nothing happens. Nun stands for the Yiddish word nisht, meaning nothing, so the turn simply passes.
In the classic dreidel game, what does landing on hei mean? Family
Answer: Take half the pot. Hei stands for the Yiddish word halb, meaning half. If the pot holds an odd number, the usual rule is to take half plus one.
What is the Hebrew word for a dreidel? Hard
Answer: Sevivon. Like the Yiddish word dreidel, sevivon comes from a root meaning to turn around.
Hanukkah words and traditions
What is Hanukkah gelt? Kids
Answer: Money, often chocolate coins. Gelt means money in Yiddish. Foil-wrapped chocolate coins came later and are now a sweet favorite.
Children are encouraged to give part of their gelt as what? Kids
Answer: Tzedakah, or charity. Giving tzedakah is part of Hanukkah, and many families give extra during the holiday.
Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of what? Family
Answer: Lights. The name fits the nightly menorah lighting, which adds a little more light each night.
What does the Hebrew word Hanukkah mean? Family
Answer: Dedication. The name refers to the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Which prayer, meaning "for the miracles," is added during Hanukkah? Family
Answer: Al HaNissim. Al HaNissim is added to the daily prayers and Grace After Meals, giving thanks for the victory of the few over the many.
Which prayer of joyful praise is said every morning of Hanukkah? Family
Answer: Hallel. The complete Hallel, made of Psalms of praise, is recited in the morning service on each of the eight days.
The Hanukkah song Maoz Tzur is known in English by what name? Hard
Answer: Rock of Ages. Its Hebrew words were composed in the 13th century and recall times the Jewish people were saved from hardship.
How It Works
How to host a hanukkah trivia game
Three ways to play, all free and with no sign-up.
Play on a screen
Pick the level and topic, then play one question at a time on a phone, a laptop or the TV. The score keeps itself.
Print it for the table
Print the round with a name and score line for each player. The answer key prints on its own page for the host.
Send it to the group
Download the round as one image, with the answers in small print at the bottom, and share it in the family or office chat.
Ideas
Tips for a fun trivia night
Small touches that keep the whole table playing.
01
Play in teams
Teams of three to five keep shy players in the game and stop one know-it-all from running away with it.
02
Mix the levels
Let kids answer the Kids questions and adults the Hard ones, then add the scores together. Everyone gets a turn.
03
Read the fact out loud
After each answer, read the extra fact. It turns a quiz into a conversation, and people remember it.
04
Small prizes, big laughs
A treat for each round winner and a bigger prize at the end keeps everyone playing to the last question.
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