HADLAQAT NEROT: The most typical celebration of Hanukka is the Mitsva of lighting the candles. Every night we light the Hanukka candles, as we will explain. But apart from this Mitsva there are other customs and traditions to celebrate this holiday.
HALEL RECITATION: During all days of Hanukka we recite the Hallel Shalem. Hallel is a Tefila (= prayer) of praise to HaShem, which consists of the reading and intonation of some Mizmorim (Psalms) of Tehilim related to celebration and joy. Hallel is also said on Pesach, Shabu’ot, Sukkot, etc.
‘AL HANISIM: We also introduce in the Amida (the main daily prayer) and the Birkat haMazon (the prayer after meals) a special paragraph where we thank HaShem for having saved our ancestors from their enemies in the times of Matitiyahu and his sons, the Hasmonayim.
TORA READING: During the 8 days of Hanukka, we read the Biblical texts corresponding to the inauguration ceremony of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle, that is, the Temple erected in the desert of Sinai), when each of the Nesiim (leaders) of each tribe of Israel brought an offering to HaShem to inaugurate the altar (mizbeach). Even during Monday and Thursday, the days on which we read the weekly section, we interrupt the reading of the Parasha of the week, and we read only the paragraphs assigned to Hanukka.
SEUDA: Although there is no formal Mitsva to have a Seuda, that is, a celebratory meal as we do on Purim, in many communities, it is customary to serve special celebratory meals where words of Tora are said, and joyful songs are sung, celebrating with family, friends and guests. Many also serve dairy dishes in memory of the heroic act of Yehudit, the daughter of Yochanan Cohen Gadol. Others serve lebibot, sufganiyot, or other oil-fried pastries.
There are also some things that we stop doing during Hanukka since these should be happy days .
Examples:
FASTING: Many people fast, for example, on the anniversary of the death of the father or mother. However, when the anniversary coincides with Hanukka, these fasts will have to be moved after Hanukka ends.
EULOGIES (hesped): It is customary not to perform elegies (= didan, shloshim, arayat, funeral speech) during Hanukka. Nor is the cemetery visited on death anniversaries. These visits can be made before or after Hanukka, according to the custom of each community.
TACHANUN: During Hanukkah, the Tefillot of confession (tachanun) and the Mizmorim of supplication are omitted. All this, as we said, is done to preserve a spirit of festivity and joy in Hanukka.
