Plan a Hanukkah party at home

Choose a night that fits the candles

The first lighting is Friday, December 4. The eighth light is Friday night, December 11. The holiday's last day ends after nightfall on Saturday, December 12. On both Fridays the Hanukkah lights go on before Shabbat candles, while it's still light. They need enough fuel to burn at least half an hour beyond nightfall. Look up the local candle time with the person lighting before setting Friday's arrival hour. On a Tuesday the cook can fry from 3:00 PM, pause for lighting at the family's chosen hour, and put the hot food out afterward.

Saturday, December 5 is the second candle night. Wait until Shabbat ends before lighting. Families differ about whether Havdalah comes before or after the Hanukkah lighting, so leave that choice to them. Tuesday, December 8 is the fifth candle night in the example below. For that night, set out five holiday candles and one shamash per hanukkiah. Confirm the lighting hour, then say 6:00 PM arrival, lighting at the agreed time and food afterward on the invitation.

Set out 12 chairs for 12 people. For 30, put food on a separate buffet and walk the route with a plate. Leave the candle area out of the traffic line. A guest who misses the lighting gets a plate and a dreidel when they arrive. The cook can finish a batch without asking the person lighting to wait.

Before Tuesday, December 8

For a Saturday gathering, use the local time Shabbat ends. State whether guests are invited for the lighting or only for food afterward. A reply deadline gives the cook a real count. Leave the exact candle time with the people lighting.

Make the food count before buying potatoes

Latkes are potato pancakes fried in oil. Sufganiyot are jelly doughnuts. Both point back to the Hanukkah oil story. Put out applesauce and sour cream as toppings if those fit the guests' food needs. As a planning suggestion when latkes are the main hot food, allow four small latkes and two doughnuts per person. For 12, that's 48 latkes and 24 doughnuts. Choose a recipe that says 2 pounds of potatoes make 16 small latkes: three recipe batches then use 6 pounds. If your recipe gives 12 latkes from a 2-pound bag, four bags cover 48.

Before shopping, ask guests who keep kosher what food, drinks and utensils they'll use. Ask specifically about the doughnuts, toppings, packaged items and wine if you're offering it. A vegetarian label or sealed package alone doesn't settle that question. Write down the answer and keep their chosen food separate from other serving utensils. Let a guest bring food they trust if that is easier for them.

Give frying one cook and serving another. If a pan fits four latkes and a batch takes six minutes, 48 latkes take 12 batches, or 72 minutes. Eighty take 20 batches, or 120 minutes; 120 take 30 batches, or 180 minutes. Add time for heating the pan and changing oil. Give another adult the applesauce and sour cream before frying begins. Put a folded towel beside the serving tray and salt each batch as it comes out. Keep one tray warm, uncovered, in a 200 F oven if the recipe permits. Keep a fitting lid nearby. If oil catches fire, slide the lid over the pan, turn off the heat, leave the lid until cool and call 911. Never use water or flour on a grease fire, and never carry the burning pan.

Who lights, who watches the candles, who fries

A hanukkiah holds eight holiday candles and a ninth helper light, the shamash. Candles are placed from right to left and lit from left to right, beginning with the newest. On the first night there are three blessings before lighting. Later nights have two. Customs about the shamash and the exact lighting time vary, so the person who lights should guide the act. A box for the whole holiday needs 44 candles, and typical boxes hold 45. For a single party, count only that night's candles for each hanukkiah being used.

Put every flame in a stable holder at least 12 inches from curtains, paper and other things that can burn. Keep the setup out of the food path. The lights need to burn at least half an hour after nightfall. Name one adult to stay with them and name who takes over if that adult sits down to eat. Stay in the room and keep the flames watched until they burn out or an adult puts them out safely. Do not leave the lights unattended during their required burn time. A window is a traditional place. Use a clear table if the sill is crowded.

Play dreidel without making dinner wait

Set out 12 equal pieces per dreidel player: 10 players need 120 pieces. Everyone puts one piece in the pot at the start, then antes again when the pot is empty or down to one. Nun does nothing, gimel takes the pot, hey takes half, and shin adds one. In Israel the fourth letter is peh, meaning 'here' rather than 'there.' One rulebook gives hey the odd piece, another leaves it in the pot. Say which rule you play before the first spin.

A table by the food works better than a game around the flames. Put a small bowl at each seat so pieces don't roll into dishes. Children can play as soon as the hot food is served. Adults who want to talk don't need to join. The game can end when the table wants dessert, even if no one has collected everything.

Gift exchange isn't central to Hanukkah. Write down who brings and lights the hanukkiah, which food and utensils guests can use, and whether they want a game. You can handle the table and meal while the people lighting decide the blessings. Keep the invitation direct: 'Come at 6:00 PM for candle lighting and latkes afterward,' once they approve that hour.

Put the invitation in the right order

Settle the date and lighting time first. Then collect food needs and send the address through the invitation. Change the potato and doughnut order when replies change: four latkes and two doughnuts for each added guest. Keep one person responsible for the candle watch and another for the stove.

Count guests

Plan the food

Choose a reply deadline

Add your local prices