Songs and Rhymes About  
​Hanukkah 
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Here  is a collection of the words for some songs and rhymes that coordinate with the  popular early childhood theme Hanukkah,  and can be used when planning activities and curriculum for Preschool, PreK and Kindergarten children.

Hanukkah theme free activity printables
​Hanukkah activity packs
Songs and rhymes main index
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
My dreidel I shall play.


Sung to: "I've been working on the railroad"
I am lighting all the candles
On this Hanukkah night.
I am lighting all the candles,
To see them shining bright.
Flicker, flickers little candles,
Fill me with your glow.
Now the time has come to count them,
Ready, set and go
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.


Five little latkes were sizzling in the pan (wiggle 5 fingers)
One jumped out, said catch me if you can!
And it jumped and it ran all around the kitchen floor,
When I turned around it ran right out the door!
Now, there are 4 little latkes.
3, 2, 1...


(Tune: When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
The latkes are frying in the pan, hurrah, hurrah!
The latkes are frying in the pan, hurrah, hurrah!
And when they have cooked up nice and brown,
We'll take them out and sit right down
And we'll eat those yummy latkes on this Hannukkah night!


(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle)
Twinkle, twinkle Hanukkah lights,
Shining brightly for 8 nights,
See the dreidel spin around,
Eat some latke crisp and brown.
Twinkle, twinkle Hanukkah lights,
Shining brightly for 8 nights


On Hanukkah, we light the candles each and every night,
Starting with just one little candle, till all are shining bright.
Don't let the lights go out -
The story goes on and on...
A miracle to light the night, and keep our people strong.
Don't let the lights go out -
The story goes on and on...
A miracle to light the night, and keep our people strong.

 
Tune:Did you ever see a lassie
Oh, sing a song of Hanukkah,
Of Hanukkah, of Hanukkah,
Sing a song of Hanukkah,
Happy holidays!
With presents and presents,
On every night, a present.
Oh sing a song of Hanukkah,
Happy holidays!

 
Oh Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah, come light the menorah,
Let's have a party, we'll all dance the Hora,
Gather round the table, I'll give you a treat,
S'vivon (dreidels)  to play with, and latkes to eat.
And while we are playing,
The candles are burning bright,
One for each night, they shed a sweet light,
To remind us of days long ago.
One for each night, they shed a sweet light,
To   remind us of days long ago.
 
 
Tune: Mary Had A Little Lamb
Hanukkah's a happy time,
Happy time, happy time.
Hanukkah's a happy time,
The Festival of Lights.
 
 
Tune: A tisket, a tasket
Menorah, menorah,
A Hanukkah menorah,
Light the lights and give a gift.
Oh Hanukkah menorah.
 

Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Light the candles one by one.
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Spin the dreidel round and round,
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Oh, Hanukkah is here.
Eat the latkes (pancakes), yum, yum, yum.
Oh, Hanukkah is here!
 

Eight Little candles in a row,
Waiting to join the holiday glow.
We will light them one by one,
Until all eight have joined the fun,
Eight little candles burning bright,
Filling the world with holiday light.
 
 
Tune: I'm a little teapot
 I'm a little dreidel made of clay
Spin me around when you want to play.
When I fall down if you don't win -
Just pick me up and spin again.
 
 
Tune:Three Blind Mice
Han-uk-kah, Han-uk-kah,
Hanukkah is here, Hanukkah is here!
Light eight candles in a row,
Light eight candles
 And see them glow,
Light eight candles so we all know
That Hanukkah is here.
 
 
Tune:I'm a Little Teapot
I'm a little dreidel spinning round,
Turning, turning, and falling down.
Spinning faster, faster - slowing down,
Slower, slower - fall to the ground.
 
 
Hanukkah is coming very soon,
I know there'll be some presents, too.
Here is a menorah, light the lights,
There is one for every night.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 - Happy Hanukkah!
 

Tune: Flintstones theme
Latkes, eat some latkes,
They're a Hanukkah delicacy.
Eaten with some sour cream,
And with applesauce  they're really fancy.
Fried in olive oil just right,
Reminds us of the miracle of light...
Latkes, eat some latkes,
They're a Hanukkah del-, a Hanukkah del,
A Hanukkah delicacy.
 
 
Tune: Sally the Camel
The Hanukkah menorah has one light,
One light for one night,
The Hanukkah menorah has one light,
So burn candle burn.
The Hanukkah menorah has two lights,
Two lights for two nights,
The Hanukkah menorah has two lights,
So burn candles burn.  (sing up to eight)
 

(Tune: 6 Little Ducks) 
Nine little candles in my Hanukkah light, 
Burning brightly throughout the night. 
But one little candle is taller than the rest, 
We call that candle the Sha-a-mash. 
We light the candles one by one, 
We play with dreidels and have some fun. 
We dance the hora and tell the story, 
Of Judah Maccabbee and his glory

 
How many candles,  how many candles,
Do we light?  Do we light?
Ho-w many candles,  d-o we light
The [first] night?
The [first] night?

[One] little candle,  [one] little candle
We do light,  we do light.
[One] little candle  w-e do light,
The [first] night,
The [first] night.


Tune: I'm a Little Teapot
I'm a little dreidel,  can't you see?
Spin my handle,  and  play with me.
Spin me, spin me,  round and round.
Watch me, watch me, as I  fall down.
Chant:
      Nun gets nothing.
      Gimmel takes all.
      Shin loses one.
      Hay gets half.

Spinning, spinnning, spinning,
Oh so fast!
Spinning, spinnning, spinning,
Slower now.
Spinning, oh so slowly,
I  fall down.
Did you win?
Let's play again
Please email if you have a song to add, or if you find a broken link. 
Your comments and ideas are always welcome.

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