Bringing brightness to the dark winter, Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates the miracle of second century Jews who found a raft of lamp oil that was just enough to light the Holy Temple in Jerusalem for one night after warring with the Syrian Greeks. But the oil lasted for eight nights, and Jewish people all over the globe celebrate this miracle by lighting a candelabrum called a menorah, eating foods cooked in oil, like potato latkes and jelly donuts, and singing Hanukkah songs.
One of my true pleasures of the holiday is blasting Hanukkah songs and dancing around the house with my family, all of us singing at the top of our lungs. I have curated a Family Hanukkah Dance Party playlist to share some of my favorite tunes, both new songs and fun new versions of Hanukkah classics.
Happy Hanukkah by Matisyahu
Blending rap, hip hop and beatbox, Matisyahu’s dance song Happy Hanukkah brings the reggae beat to highlight the warmth of the holiday. As a Jewish-identified musician, Matisyahu’s music is known for its spiritual depth and catchy hooks.
Puppy for Hanukkah by Daveed Diggs
In the dark days of the 2020 holiday season, when people around the world were still holed up socially distancing from friends and family due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one bright spot was the release of Puppy for Hanukkah. Singing/rapper Daveed Diggs is best known for originating the dual roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton, and his playful exploration of Hanukkah gift-giving will resonate with everyone who has ever hoped for something awesome, only to open the present to find “just socks.”
Honeyky Hanuka-Hanukkah by The Klezmatics
Famous American folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote a treasure trove of Jewish-themed songs, no doubt influenced by his mother-in-law, the Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt. Many years after Guthrie’s death, his daughter Nora discovered notebooks full of song lyrics. The family worked closely with the New York klezmer band The Klezmatics to set the songs to music. Guthrie’s Jewish-themed songs became The Klezmatics’ 2007 album Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah.
8 Days (of Hanukkah) by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Soul and funk revival band, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, sing a groovy take on a new Hanukkah song.
Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah by Erran Baron Cohen
Best known for his musical soundtrack collaborations for his younger brother Sasha’s films, Erran Baron Cohen created a truly rocking Hanukkah album, Songs in the Key of Hanukkah, released in 2010. Threaded with Baron Cohen’s masterful trumpet, this updated version of a Hanukkah classic is pure dance magic.
I Have a Little Dreidel by Barenaked Ladies
When people think of Hanukkah songs, most will start singing, “dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay.” Written in 1927, this classic song gets a new sound with a cover by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies.
Oh Hanukkah by Jack Black
Tenacious D front man and comedic actor Jack Black lends his baritenor vocal range to a straightforward rendition of the classic, Oh Hanukkah.
8 Nights by Naomi Less
Brooklyn-based Naomi Less is a Jewish-identified singer-song writer. She wrote the catchy 8 Nights in 2011 with Glenn Grossman.
The Chanukah Song Part 3 by Adam Sandler
On the December 3, 1994, episode of Saturday Night Live, Adam Sandler said, “[A]ll us Jewish kids had was the song ‘Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel’ so I wrote a brand-new Hanukkah song,” and he launched into the first of four versions of his now famous Chanukkah Song. Kids today won’t recognize the famous people Sandler name-checks, even in the most recent version that was released in 2015, but that doesn’t stop the fun of celebrating the Festival of Lights with the silly singing Sandler.
Hanukah Dance – Live by Nefesh Mountain
Nefesh Mountain is a New York-based Americana band that infuses their Jewish pride, musical traditions and soul into their bluegrass tunes. This cover of one of the Woody Guthrie Hanukkah songs will make you want to grab the hands of loved ones and dance, “around and around you go.”
Happy Joyous Hanukkah by Indigo Girls
American folk rock music duo included this Woody Guthrie new classic to their holiday album, Holly Happy Days.
Ma’oz Tzur by Erran Baron Cohen
Thought to have originated in the 13th century, Ma’oz Tzur translates from the Hebrew to mean, “rock of ages.” The most well-known and beloved of all Hanukkah songs, it was first a liturgical poem. It’s a fun song to sing and the meaning of the lyrics helps Jewish families find strength and hope. Baron Cohen and singer Dana Kerstein update of Ma’oz Tzur brings light to the season.
Ariel Frager loves to get outside to surf, play and travel the world. She is a mental health therapist who specializes in working with kids. Ariel writes about outdoor and family adventures for Travel + Leisure, Gear Junkie, Girl Camper and various other publications.
