"Hanukkah, as well as other holidays, isn’t celebrated with the same funny, silly songs as Christmas. There are a few exceptions, though." --Zara Quiter, Sixth Grade
The winter holidays are nearing, and it’s the season of lights and festivities—and holiday music. Listening to Christmas music is a classic activity if you celebrate Christmas, but if you don’t, what then? Hanukkah, as well as other holidays, isn’t celebrated with the same funny, silly songs as Christmas. There are a few exceptions, though.
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight nights.This year it starts on December 18th and ends December 26th. People celebrate by lighting the menorah, which has nine wicks, one for each day and one that is called the shamash, the candle used to light the other candles.
Rafi Ponet, an OSA seventh grader, said, “Many people in the U.S. think Hanukkah is the ‘Jewish version of Christmas' or something like that. But it's not. It's its own separate holiday in a separate religion that just so happens to take place around the same time as Christmas.”
“The Chanukkah Song” by Adam Sandler is a funny song that basically makes fun of how there are so many Christmas songs, and not that many Hanukkah songs. The song lists many famous jews, “David Lee Roth lights the menorah. So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shore-ah. Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli? Bowser from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzerelli! Paul Newman's half Jewish, Goldie Hawn's half too.” The song is for the “Jewish kids who don't get to hear any Hanukkah songs,” sings Sandler. .
Sophie Zizmor, a sixth grader at OSA, thinks that “The Chanukkah Song" is great. “I do like this song because it is funny and also I like that it's about Hanukkah,” Zizmor said. “My favorite part of the song is when he sings ‘here comes Hanukkah so much funukkah.’”
Alex Stullman, a seventh grader at OSA loves “The Chanukkah Song.” “I love this song. It’s a classic,” said Stullman. “I like when he talks about Captain Kirk and Spock being Jewish.” Stullman continued, “There should be more Hanukkah music but I don't want it to become American trash like Christmas music did.”
The next song is a remake of Taylor Swift’s hit, “Shake It Off.” “Chanukah (Shake It Off),” sung by Six13, an a capella group, who rewrites songs, giving them Jewish stories and themes. Their Shake it Off remix tells the story of the Maccabees and traditions celebrated during Hanukkah.
Tuesday Solomon, a sixth grader at OSA thought that “Chanukah (Shake It Off)” was pretty good. “I related most to the parts of the song talking about Hanukkah traditions,” Solomon said. “When my family and I celebrate Hanukkah, we play dreidel, make latkes, light the menorah, and other traditions that were represented in the song.”
The best Hanukkah song of all time is “Puppy For Hanukkah,” a song released by Daveed Diggs in 2020. Diggs is half Jewish and grew up in Oakland. Diggs is a renowned actor, rapper, and songwriter. In his song, Diggs compares Christmas to Hanukkah: “Some kids write lists for their Christmas gifts, and they send 'em all off to their Santas. But I don't trip off a list for my gift, I'ma get it cause I got eight chances.” Later in the song, Diggs actually sings one of the prayers! This song is a great one to listen to around the holiday season.
Emily Klein, a mom, thought this song was great. “I love ‘Puppy For Hanukkah’!” Klein said. “It feels like it's been decades since anyone released a catchy new Hanukkah song that felt really current and singable and had mainstream popularity.”
Jack Psomas, a sixth grader at OSA, listened to “Puppy For Hanukkah,” which he thought was funny. “The rap style mixed with Hanukkah with the idea of a ‘Hanukkah puppy’ was a fun concept to me,” Psomas said. “A part of the song I related to was the part where the kids were hoping to get a dog for Hanukkah but instead, they got socks or a knitted shirt.”
Although the number of Christmas songs is more than Hanukkah songs, that doesn’t mean the ones that do exist should be ignored. These songs are silly, fun, and full of חנוכה (Hanukkah) spirit. Enjoy these songs, and happy Hanukkah!
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight nights.This year it starts on December 18th and ends December 26th. People celebrate by lighting the menorah, which has nine wicks, one for each day and one that is called the shamash, the candle used to light the other candles.
Rafi Ponet, an OSA seventh grader, said, “Many people in the U.S. think Hanukkah is the ‘Jewish version of Christmas' or something like that. But it's not. It's its own separate holiday in a separate religion that just so happens to take place around the same time as Christmas.”
“The Chanukkah Song” by Adam Sandler is a funny song that basically makes fun of how there are so many Christmas songs, and not that many Hanukkah songs. The song lists many famous jews, “David Lee Roth lights the menorah. So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shore-ah. Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli? Bowser from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzerelli! Paul Newman's half Jewish, Goldie Hawn's half too.” The song is for the “Jewish kids who don't get to hear any Hanukkah songs,” sings Sandler. .
Sophie Zizmor, a sixth grader at OSA, thinks that “The Chanukkah Song" is great. “I do like this song because it is funny and also I like that it's about Hanukkah,” Zizmor said. “My favorite part of the song is when he sings ‘here comes Hanukkah so much funukkah.’”
Alex Stullman, a seventh grader at OSA loves “The Chanukkah Song.” “I love this song. It’s a classic,” said Stullman. “I like when he talks about Captain Kirk and Spock being Jewish.” Stullman continued, “There should be more Hanukkah music but I don't want it to become American trash like Christmas music did.”
The next song is a remake of Taylor Swift’s hit, “Shake It Off.” “Chanukah (Shake It Off),” sung by Six13, an a capella group, who rewrites songs, giving them Jewish stories and themes. Their Shake it Off remix tells the story of the Maccabees and traditions celebrated during Hanukkah.
Tuesday Solomon, a sixth grader at OSA thought that “Chanukah (Shake It Off)” was pretty good. “I related most to the parts of the song talking about Hanukkah traditions,” Solomon said. “When my family and I celebrate Hanukkah, we play dreidel, make latkes, light the menorah, and other traditions that were represented in the song.”
The best Hanukkah song of all time is “Puppy For Hanukkah,” a song released by Daveed Diggs in 2020. Diggs is half Jewish and grew up in Oakland. Diggs is a renowned actor, rapper, and songwriter. In his song, Diggs compares Christmas to Hanukkah: “Some kids write lists for their Christmas gifts, and they send 'em all off to their Santas. But I don't trip off a list for my gift, I'ma get it cause I got eight chances.” Later in the song, Diggs actually sings one of the prayers! This song is a great one to listen to around the holiday season.
Emily Klein, a mom, thought this song was great. “I love ‘Puppy For Hanukkah’!” Klein said. “It feels like it's been decades since anyone released a catchy new Hanukkah song that felt really current and singable and had mainstream popularity.”
Jack Psomas, a sixth grader at OSA, listened to “Puppy For Hanukkah,” which he thought was funny. “The rap style mixed with Hanukkah with the idea of a ‘Hanukkah puppy’ was a fun concept to me,” Psomas said. “A part of the song I related to was the part where the kids were hoping to get a dog for Hanukkah but instead, they got socks or a knitted shirt.”
Although the number of Christmas songs is more than Hanukkah songs, that doesn’t mean the ones that do exist should be ignored. These songs are silly, fun, and full of חנוכה (Hanukkah) spirit. Enjoy these songs, and happy Hanukkah!
