What happened during the beginning of Hanukkah?

What are the nighttime practices that happen in the beginning of hanukkah?

• Answer:

  There is a menorah (candalabra for 9 candles). The 1st nite you light the "Shamesh" which is the candle that lights the other candles. You light 1 candle. Each night you add another candle for the # of days of the holiday. Usually the family gathers around the candles after dark and the father (if there is one) says 3 prayers and lights the candles. On subsequent nights there are 2 prayers. The typical Hanukkah food is fried to remember the oil that lasted for 8 days when there was supposed to only be enough to last 1 nite. Potato "latkes" or pancakes and jelly donuts. Children are usually given small gifts each night of the holiday. They are given "dreydels" (tops) to play with & play a gambling game. They get "Hanukkah gelt" (money) made out of chocolate and shaped like gold coins. The children gamble with the gelt. Adults usually exchange 1 gift for the holiday. In my family we gather on 1 day of Hanukkah that's convenient for everyone (not necessarily the 1st nite)...usually a Sunday. Songs are sung and it is a very festive and happy holiday.