And Then You Celebrate! Quiz | Seasonal

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1. Naturally, Hanukkah is celebrated in the Jewish nation of Israel. Which jelly-filled delicacy, which is similar to Yiddish "ponchkes", is traditionally eaten in Israel during the Festival of Lights?

Answer: Sufganiyot

One of the many delicious foods eaten in Hanukkah are sufganiyot, round, fried doughnuts filled with jelly and covered with powdered sugar. The pastries are deep-fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah: very little oil was enough to light a menorah for eight days. Because of this, Hanukkah foods are cooked with plenty of oil to celebrate!

2. In Alsace, France, some Jewish people have a very special way of lighting the menorah. What is so special about it?

Answer: It has 16 candles instead of 8

Alsace is a region that has been disputed in history between France and Germany, although since the end of World War II in 1945 it has been under French control. Jews have traditionally made up an important part of the region's population, and were constantly segregated.

Alsatian Jews have a special way of celebrating Hanukkah, since double-decker menorahs are used. This means that it has two levels, with 8 candles each, so that parents and children can light the menorah simultaneously in a single menorah.

3. In a certain Arab country, which borders Saudi Arabia and Oman, Jews celebrate the seventh night of Hanukkah as a specific holiday for women. In which nation does this happen?

Answer: Yemen

Yemen was ruled by Jewish people from 275 AD and until the 7th century, when religions like Christianity and Islam started spreading. Today, Yemen is an Arab country with Islam as its official religion.

Yemenite Jews use the seventh night of Hanukkah to celebrate women, in honor of Hannah, who (according to the Book of Maccabees) rose against the Greeks alongside her seven sons, and refused to give up their beliefs, which resulted in their deaths. The night also honors Judith, who seduced General Holofernes, leading to Jewish military victory.

4. In Colombia, especially in regions like Santa Marta, it is a tradition to eat patacones (fried plantain slices) during Hanukkah. Which traditional Hanukkah potato-based food do the patacones replace?

Answer: Latkes

The Chavurah Shirat Hayyam Jewish community, located in Santa Marta, Colombia, eat patacones each Hanukkah. Patacones or tostones are snacks made of plantains (similar to bananas), which are fried in a lot of oil.

Patacones are eaten as if they were the traditional latkes, fried potato pancakes.

5. Turkish people have a special way of celebrating Hanukkah. Not only do they cook delicious "burmelos", but also sing a unique Hanukkah song called "Ocho Candelas" or "Ocho Candelikas". What is the closest translation of the name of the song to English?

Answer: Eight Candles

In Turkey, it is a tradition to sing the song "Ocho Candelikas", also known as "Ocho Candelas". This simple song is sung in honor of the eight candles that should be lit in the menorah every night of Hanukkah. Children usually light the candles as they sing.

It is also a tradition in Turkey to cook and eat "burmelos", pastries which are fried in oil and topped with syrup.

6. It is a Hanukkah tradition to ensure that the menorah is placed in a location where people can see it from outside. In countries like Algeria and Morocco, which of these is done to further ensure the menorah is seen?

Answer: The menorah is hung near the door

In some countries, such as Algeria, Morocco and India, a menorah is hung on hooks that are placed on the side of the front door, near the mezuzah, a parchment with prayers enclosed in a case that is placed in entrances or doors of Jewish homes.

This is done so people will be able to see the candles in the menorah burning and therefore acknowledge the miracle of Hanukkah. Internationally, the menorah is usually placed near a window to fulfill the same purpose.

7. Residents of Turin, Italy, enjoy eating treats called precipizi in Hanukkah. Which of these is an important ingredient needed to prepare precipizi?

Answer: Honey

Precipizi is an Italian treat made of flour, sugar and oil. These ingredients are turned into dough, which is later fried in more oil, and shaped into little balls which are finally covered with plenty of honey. Again, this is done to celebrate the Hanukkah miracle of oil.

8. Kippot are caps worn by Jews when they pray. Some people like to give these as Hanukkah gifts, and not just any kippot. In fact, there are specially made kippot in an Asian nation, which has had Jews since the silk road was established. Which country is it?

Answer: China

It is customary to give gifts in Hanukkah, especially to children. These gifts are not limited to anything, so they can be as international as possible! Examples of this include several Jewish items, such as Chinese kippot, which are unique because they were crafted by Jewish people who lived in China in the times of the Silk Road (an ancient route that connected the East and the West), as well as by World War II Jewish refugees who found a home in China.

9. Indian Jews celebrate Hanukkah a bit differently than those elsewhere. Instead of lighting candles as most people do, they dip wicks in a certain type of oil, which comes from a fruit that grows on palm trees. What would that be?

Answer: Coconut

Some Indian Jews have an interesting way of celebrating the miracle of oil, since they don't actually use candles. Rather than this, they use wicks previously dipped in coconut oil, and then light them in the menorah. It is also common for Indians to eat a confection called burfi instead of latkes.

Coconut oil has been proven to have benefits in health, as well as uses in the industry and in cooking.

10. In Morocco, it is traditional to eat jelly doughnuts in Hanukkah, which are usually made with both the juice and the zest of oranges. How is this treat called?

Answer: Sfenj

A sfenj is a jelly-filled doughnut which is cooked in abundant amounts of oil. It is then sprinkled with powdered sugar or covered with honey, and normally filled with jelly made from oranges or other fruits. Sfenj are not only eaten in Morocco, but in other parts of Africa like Algeria as well.

Source: Author Lpez

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

And Then You Celebrate! Trivia Quiz

A miracle happened when a small number of Jews defeated a superior Greek army. After the miracle, we celebrate! Learn how Hanukkah is celebrated in different parts of the world with this quiz. Good luck!

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