How do they celebrate Hanukkah differently around the world?

Answer 1

Hannukah is celebrated the same in other countries as in the states; every night for eight nights one candle is lit at a time. Traditional latkes are fried in oil (the whole holiday is just a giant celebration of oil), and its been known that homemade doughnuts are made for some families (a tradition in Israel). Blessings are said over the light from the candles each night, and depending on the family presents could be involved. Since the presents are only there because of Christmas' influence it changes from family to family.

Answer 2

It's celebrated identically by Jews worldwide, with the same menorah-lighting, blessings and prayers. The only thing that might possibly differ would be matters of relatively little importance such as what kind of fried food would be eaten.

Answer 3

well ..... some people open thier persents 3 months after Hanukkah. some people open thier presents in November. All around the world people have different rules and laws.

Answer:

The above answer is non-traditional:

1) The only traditional gift during Hanukkah is the gelt (coins) given to children.

2) Hanukkah is celebrated in the same manner by Jews worldwide: lighting the menorah, etc. It was founded before the present diaspora began.

Answer 4

On Hanukkah, the chief celebration is for the miracle of the oil (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), which occurred during the Hasmonean victory over the Syrian-Greeks; and we also thank God for His having helped us to oust the Syrian-Greeks (Seleucids) and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews. The Seleucids, at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices, such as Sabbath-observance, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. The Hasmoneans (a religious Jewish family) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. When they reached the Temple grounds, they found only one day's supply of unsullied olive oil, but the oil lamps miraculously burned for eight days (ibid.), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.

The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple.

The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). The eight-day rededication of the Temple is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees (I, 4:36; and II, 1:18); and Josephus mentions the eight-day festival in Antiquities ch.12.

The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.

Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil, just as we have no special occasion to mark Abraham's victory (Genesis ch.14), or those of Moses (Numbers ch.21), Joshua, Deborah (Judges ch.4), Gideon (Judges ch.6-7), Jephthah (Judges ch.11), or King David. And though the Hasmonean battles continued for two decades after the retaking of the Temple, the Sages instituted Hanukkah immediately after the miracle of the oil.

It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."

Answer 5

Because Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, it doesn't vary much from country to country. The major difference is that gift-giving is more common in North America than it is in other countries.