How to Celebrate the Second Night of Hanukkah

Whereas the first night of Hanukkah has the most religious significance, the second night can be a time when the fun really gets started. Celebrate Hanukkah on the second night with the traditional prayers and customs--but invite friends and neighbors over for a Hanukkah party to give your children memories they'll treasure long after the candle lights have gone out.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Place fresh candles in the menorah to replace ones that burned out the previous night. Put matches or a lighter within quick reach of the menorah. You can decorate the area where you've placed the menorah with artwork your children might have done in a Jewish day school--or with Hanukkah greeting cards.
2. Ask guests to come over about 20 to 30 minutes after sundown, which is considered the right time to light Hanukkah candles. If the party falls on Shabbat, they can be part of the Shabbat dinner and should arrive shortly before sundown so they can witness the lighting of the Shabbat candles, which takes place before the menorah is lit.
3. Say the first two of the three Hanukkah prayers on the second night of Hanukkah. See Resources below for Hanukkah prayers. Print out the transliteration and English meaning of the prayers for guests--especially those who aren't familiar with this Jewish tradition.
4. Host kid-friendly Hanukkah activities like decorating potato latkes--have a bar of sour cream, applesauce, chives, fruit and other toppings handy. Have a dreidel tournament, where kids play each other until a dreidel champion is identified--and rewarded with lots of chocolate Hanukkah gelt.
5. Provide Hanukkah-themed coloring pages or crafts for the children to do as the parents mill around, snack on latkes or other treats and enjoy a glass of wine.
6. Exchange Hanukkah gifts. The hosts should have small gifts for each child attending--puzzles, books and small balls and dolls are good, inexpensive items to give. If the guests brought gifts, this is a good time for the children to open them. Parents can give their children any small--or large--items they designated for the second night of Hanukkah, too.