21 Hanukkah Writing Prompts for Reflection and Celebration

If you’re looking for Hanukkah writing prompts, you’ve come to the right place for some creative ideas.

Every holiday season is a good time to reflect, think about the holiday you celebrate, why it matters to you, and come up with creative prompts for writing and reflection.

Hanukkah is observed over the span of eight days and nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev. It is not on a set traditional calendar day as it follows the Hebrew calendar. It typically falls between November and December.

If you celebrate Hanukkah, it might be a good time for you to reflect on the year, what the holiday means to you, and just simply take the time to think about your life.

You can do them with your friends and family, too, if you want to create a bond with them or a new tradition to deepen your relationships.

Why Writing Prompts Help

When it comes to doing reflection, it’s hard to just sit down and start writing.

Often, more than not, getting a little help and mental assistance with getting the creative juices flowing can help a ton.

If there are certain prompts that help you get writing, you should keep those in your own little writing folder for the future. Even the best writers out there need some help now and then.

It might also help to have a designated writing spot in your home or office. Writing on the couch in front of the TV while your favorite show is streaming in the background would make it tough to focus, even for the best writing professional.

With all that being said, grab your favorite writing tools, crack open something delicious to drink, and let’s get started.

Hanukkah Writing Prompts

Let’s dive into some Hanukkah writing prompts. You don’t need to write about all of them, they’re simply here for you to use as inspiration for your own creativity and journaling.

#1 – Why is Hanukkah important to you? You can approach this from a religious standpoint or if you want to dive into why you a

#2 – Why do you think it’s important to pass down traditions? What do you want your children to know about this holiday and the history behind it? How do you want future generations to celebrate and understand this time?

#3 – How did your family celebrate Hanukkah? What memories did you love from that time? What do you wish you could go back and enjoy again?

#4 – What do you think about when you see a menorah? What does it mean to you? What about the oil lasting eight days, how does that story make you feel? Since they can come in all kinds of different designs, take the time to write about the most beautiful one you’ve ever seen.

#5 – What is your favorite part of Hanukkah? How can you enjoy more of it? What is your least favorite part?

#6 – What would you change about celebrating Hanukkah, if anything? Would you like to celebrate it with different people or in a different place? In what ways would you love to celebrate it more?

#7 – Since the Hebrew word Chanukah translates to “dedication”, what does the word dedication mean to you? How is the word and the holiday related in your mind? How can you bring more dedication into your life? What would you like to dedicate yourself to?

#8 – When you talk about Hanukkah to your friends who don’t celebrate the holiday, how do you describe it? What do you want them to know about it? Why is it important to you?

#9 – Who are your favorite people to celebrate Hanukkah with and how can you show them you appreciate them this year? You could even use this prompt to write letters to people in your life explaining why you’re grateful for them and their presence in your life. They don’t have to be long, extensive letters. You can even just send a spontaneous thank you card.

#10 – What are your favorite Hanukkah songs? Do you like to sing them or are you not a fan of singing? Did you ever learn and instrument to play any? Would you?

#11 – What kind of gifts are you hoping for this Hanukkah? What was the best gift you’ve ever been given? Was there a gift you will never forget?

#12 – Do you decorate for Hanukkah? Is your style to go all-out or are you more minimal with your decorations? What is your favorite item to decorate with that you’ll always put up?

#13 – What does the first day of Hanukkah feel like? Does it feel different than the last day? How do you feel about it leading up to the celebration?

#14 – What are your favorite Hanukkah dishes? Do you prefer to cook them yourself or cook them with other people? Do you have a favorite restaurant to go to so you can celebrate? Who is the best cook in your whole family? What is your relationship with food when it comes to holidays in general?

#15 – What causes do you feel passionate about supporting? How can you get more involved with them in the upcoming year? Would you want your family and your friends to join you in support?

#16 – How does your faith play a part in your every day life?

#17 – How would you feel if you were there when the oil lasted 8 days instead of just the one?

#18 – What was the best Hanukkah you ever celebrated? What made it so special? Was it something you were doing, the people you were surrounded by, or something else? How can you recreate that for yourself this year?

#19 – Describe your life this time next year. What does it look like? Who are you with? What have you accomplished as you celebrate Hanukkah once again?

#20 – Do you have a favorite game you play during Hanukkah celebrations? Is there a game you wish your family played or that you want to experience?

#21 – Do you celebrate the same way every year? Would you want to mix it up in the future? Are you a person who loves to celebrate holidays in the same way each time or would you prefer to change things every year?

Sharing Your Writing

It’s up to you if you want to share your writing with the people in your life or simply keep your writing to yourself.

As mentioned earlier, it can be a way to deepen a bond with other people in your life and discuss these questions as a group.

You could even typer your answers and share them anonymously with each other, to get a real feel for people’s thoughts on the holiday. If you’re in a book club, you could bring these with you to discuss it there with people who love to dive into themes, stories, and thoughts.

There are plenty of ways to get creative for how you want to use this time to reflect on your life and deepen your relationships.

What to do next?

Did you love the prompts and the ability to start writing something that mattered?

Is a career in writing in the cards for you?

If so, you’ll definitely want to check out the next option and begin your journey as a writer!