Happy Hanukkah! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah at home or you’re a teacher sharing holidays from around the world with your class, this free printable Hanukkah word scramble is a fun way to learn the words and traditions of this eight-night celebration. We have 2 options and designs to choose from!
Even if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah in your own home, learning about the traditions surrounding this holiday is meaningful for everyone. Hanukkah is also known as The Festival of Lights and it’s a time when Jewish families will celebrate for eight nights. Traditions include lighting the menorah, spinning the dreidel and enjoying plenty of latkes!
Free Printable Hanukkah Word Scramble
Our Free Printable Hanukkah Word Scramble has 15 words about the Festival of Lights, from menorah and dreidel to latkes and applesauce. It prints on one standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and the answer key is listed below.
We have 2 designs to choose from too!
It’s a fun activity for a classroom holidays-around-the-world unit, or at home celebrating Hanukkah with friends and family.
Hanukkah Word Scramble Answer Key
Spoiler alert! Here are the answers to the Hanukkah word scramble. No peeking until you’ve given it your best try!
- Menorah
- Dreidel
- Latkes
- Candles
- Shamash
- Gelt
- Miracle
- Maccabees
- Jerusalem
- Temple
- Festival
- Blessing
- Doughnuts
- Applesauce
- Lights
Download Free Printable Hanukkah Word Scramble
Here are 2 separate links so you can download your free printable Hanukkah word scramble.
For the best print quality, download the PDF from the link above rather than printing the image on this page.
Happy Hanukkah, and enjoy!
More Free Printable Word Scrambles
Celebrate the whole holiday season with our other free printable word scrambles:
- Thanksgiving Word Scramble
- Christmas Word Scramble
- Kwanzaa Word Scramble
- Winter Word Scramble
- New Year’s Eve Word Scramble
- Chinese New Year Word Scramble
- Groundhog Day Word Scramble
- Valentine’s Day Word Scramble
- Presidents Day Word Scramble
- St. Patrick’s Day Word Scramble
- Diwali Word Scramble
- Halloween Word Scramble
- Veterans Day Word Scramble
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is an eight-night Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights. In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends on Saturday, December 12.
The word Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew. The holiday remembers how a small group called the Maccabees won their freedom and rededicated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. When they went to light the Temple’s menorah, they found only enough oil for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days so you can understand where the traditions and 8 night celebration originates.
Today, families light the menorah each night, adding one more candle until all eight are glowing. The ninth candle, called the shamash or “helper,” is used to light the others. Hanukkah traditions also include playing dreidel, giving gelt (chocolate coins) and eating foods fried in oil, like latkes and jelly doughnuts.
Want to learn more? My Jewish Learning shares a wonderful guide to the history and traditions of Hanukkah.
How to Play Dreidel
The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, and it’s one of the most fun Hanukkah traditions for kids! Each side has a Hebrew letter. Together, the letters stand for the phrase “a great miracle happened there.”
To play, give each player the same number of game pieces, like gelt, pennies or candy. Everyone puts one piece in the middle (the “pot”). Then take turns spinning the dreidel and follow the letter it lands on:
| Letter | What happens |
| Nun | Nothing happens. Pass the dreidel. |
| Gimel | You win the whole pot! |
| Hey | You win half the pot. |
| Shin | Add one piece to the pot. |
When the pot is empty, everyone adds another piece. The player with the most pieces at the end wins.
Learning about the traditions unique to Hanukkah or other religious holidays is a great way to appreciate various cultures and what makes each extra special.
