Chanukah Customs
The days of Chanukah should be utilized to give extra Tzedakah and to learn additional Torah. Children should also be encouraged in this regard.
One may not fast on Chanukah – not even a Chattan or Kallah on the day of their Chuppah, or for a Yahrzeit.
It is customary to eat foods fried in oil, such as Latkes and doughnuts, to commemorate the miracle of the oil.
It is also customary to eat dairy foods, to commemorate the miracle of Yehudit.
It is customary to eat special meals to celebrate the miracles of Chanukah and the reinauguration of the Beit Hamikdash. These meals are regarded as a Seudat Mitzvah if they are accompanied by song and praise for the miracles Hashem wrought, or when their purpose is to publicize the miracle of Chanukah and enhance the observance of its Mitzvot.
On one of the nights of Chanukah, the Rebbeim of Chabad would conduct a gathering of sorts for their family members (both men and women), which was referred to as “Latkes evening”. The stories related at these gatherings included several that were repeated every single Chanukah.
The days of Chanukah should be utilized to arrange and/or participate in family, school, workplace and communal Chanukah gatherings. The purpose of these gatherings is to tell the story and spread the message of Chanukah, along with the lessons derived from it.
One gives Chanukah Gelt to his or her spouse and children (whether minors or adults) each day of Chanukah, with a special addition (double or triple) on the fourth or fifth night of Chanukah. [For Shabbat, one gives Chanukah Gelt either the day before or after. One who is stringent about handling money on Motzei Shabbat should refrain from giving Chanukah Gelt until Sunday.]
One gives Chanukah Gelt to his students.
It is appropriate for children to give Chanukah Gelt to each other.
There is no source for giving Chanukah gifts other than Gelt. [If one nevertheless does so, he should bear in mind that gifts may not be given on Shabbat unless they are used on Shabbat itself.]
It is customary to play Dreidel (sevivon). One should not play for money (unless the initial understanding is that all “wins” will be returned).
It goes without saying that gambling or playing-cards is not in the spirit of Chanukah, and is in fact a desecration. The Kedushat Levi writes that each playing-card contains tremendous impurity of the unmentionable type.
