If you're gearing up to celebrate Hanukkah, start the holiday season off with a rousing game of trivia. See who knows their Jewish roots best with these Hanukkah trivia questions. We start easy with simple questions for young children, but don't worry if you want the harder stuff. The questions finish strong with challenging trivia for grownups who know their stuff.
Hanukkah Trivia Questions for Young Children
Kids who are starting to learn about Hanukkah and the meanings and traditions behind the holiday can begin with a few of these more commonly known facts.
Question: How many nights does Hanukkah last?
Answer: 8
Question: How many blessings are said on the first night of Hanukkah?
Answer: 3
Question: Are the Hanukkah candles lit from right to left or left to right?
Answer: Right to left
Question: What is the name for money given as presents during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah?
Answer: Gelt
Question: What colors are associated with Hanukkah?
Answer: Blue, white, and sometimes silver
Question: What type of cooking is traditionally used in preparing dishes for Hanukkah?
Answer: Frying
Question: What American holiday does Hanukkah sometimes overlap with?
Answer: Thanksgiving
Question: Which Hanukkah toy was used as a decoy after learning the Torah was outlawed?
Answer: The dreidel
Question: What is Shamash?
Answer: The first candle of the menorah used to light the other candles
Question: What is the name of the round jelly doughnuts served at Hanukkah?
Answer: Sufganiyot
Question: True or False: Gift giving is a long-standing Hanukkah tradition.
Answer: False
More Challenging Hanukkah Trivia Questions
Think you know all there is to know about Hanukkah? Even those of Jewish faith who celebrate Hanukkah each year might be stumped by a couple of these trivia questions.
Question: Which day of the week can Hanukkah NOT begin on?
Answer: Tuesday
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
Question: How many different ways can "Hanukkah" be spelled?
Answer: There are 16 variations on the spelling of Hanukkah.
Question: What does the word "Hanukkah" translate to?
Answer: "Inauguration" in English and "Dedication" in Hebrew
Question: Which act is prohibited during the eight nights of Hanukkah?
Answer: Fasting
Question: Who was the first U.S. president to light a menorah?
Answer: Bill Clinton
Question: Which oil is traditionally used to light the menorah?
Answer: Olive oil
Question: What are the names of the Heroines of Torah Study?
Answer: Hannah and Judith
Question: How many times is Hanukkah mentioned in the Torah?
Answer: Zero
Question: What is the name of the astronaut who celebrated Hanukkah in outer space?
Answer: Jeff Hoffman
Question: How tall is the national menorah in Washington DC?
Answer: 30 feet high
Question: What is the actual name of the object Jewish people light on Hanukkah? (NOT a menorah!)
Answer: A hanukkiah, a lamp with nine branches
Question: Some speculate that the first Hanukkah was actually a delayed celebration for what other Jewish holiday?
Answer: Sukkot
Question: Hanukkah is known as The Festival of Lights. What other title is it sometimes referred to as?
Answer: The Festival of Dedication
Celebrating the Festival of Lights
Hanukkah celebrations can be filled with activities, games, and traditional meals enjoyed with friends and family. Add these Hanukkah trivia questions to your festivities to learn more about this revered Jewish holiday as you gather with loved ones.
