What is Hanukkah?

Narrator: This is Sophia, and she is seven years old.

That's her sister, Leati, her Mum and Dad, and they are making candles.

They roll the wax around the wick to make the candle.

Today, Sophia will do something new for the first time, but what will it be?

Sophia’s Mum: Sophia, do you know why we’re making candles?

Sophia: Yes. Because… because it is Hanukkah.

Narrator: Hanukkah is a Jewish festival which celebrates the rededication of a Jewish temple many years ago.

An important candle, which only had enough oil to burn for one day, lasted for eight full days.

This is why on Hanukkah, Jewish people burn a special candle each night.

Sophia’s Mum: So, what are we going to make Sophia?

Sophia: We’re going to make some latkes.

Narrator: Sophia helps Mum get the ingredients. Then she adds the potato and gives it a good mix.

Sophia stands back and watches Mum cook. And once Dad smells the delicious food, he comes to join them.

Sophia’s Mum: Is it tasty?

Sophia: They taste so yum.

Sophia’s Mum: Do they?

Sophia’s Dad: That is really nice.

Sophia’s Mum: Mmmm.

Narrator: Sophia and her family have come to the synagogue to celebrate Hanukkah. All Sophia’s friends are here.

[CHILDREN SINGING]

Rabbi: So now, without further ado, we are going to light the candles.

Narrator: Sophia helps the rabbi light the candles.

Hanukkah lasts eight days and so there’s a new candle lit each day.

After a shared meal, they go home to play a special Hanukkah game called dreidels.

They colour the dreidel in and play a game where they spin the dreidel to win golden coins.

Sophia’s Mum: Spin it! Woo! What’s it on? Hei.

Sophia: So, I get to have one, two, three, four, five.

Sophia’s Mum: Very good. Because it’s Hanukkah, shall we have a party? And we’ll decorate the house full of Hanukkah celebration things?

Sophia: Yeah!

Narrator: Sophia and Dad start by colouring in some decorations to put up. Those dreidels look good!

Sophia: This is ‘sh’ for shin.

Sophia’s Mum: Yeah.

Sophia: Hei for ‘h’.

Sophia’s Mum: Yeah.

Sophia: Gimel for ‘g’.

Sophia’s Mum: Yeah. And what’s that top one for?

Sophia: Nun for ‘n’.

Narrator: Everyone arrives for the party.

Sophia and Sophia’s Mum: Happy Hanukkah!

Narrator: It’s getting dark and it’s time to light the hanukkiah.

Sophia’s Dad: Right Sophia, are you ready to light the candles? Shall we do it?

Sophia’s Mum: Let’s do it, everyone.

Narrator: Dad helps Sophia light the candle. You shouldn’t be around candles without an adult. Once lit, they all say a prayer.

[SOPHIA AND DAD SAYING A JEWISH PRAYER]

Narrator: To finish off the party, the family sings a song about Hanukkah.

[EVERYBODY SINGING]

Sophia and her family: Yay!

Narrator: Today, Sophia celebrated Hanukkah. There is a first time for everything.