Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. It begins on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev which is often in December in the Gregorian calendar. Held in celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, Hanukkah is often considered a major holiday but it is celebrated notwithstanding.
If someone tells you “Happy Hanukkah” and you are looking for warm and witty answers to respond with, this article has got you covered. Here, you’ll find 20 responses to “Happy Hanukkah” that are going to help you light up the atmosphere and send your warm wishes.
Hmph. It Is That Time Of The Year When We Eat Oil-Based Food Only
The Hanukkah festival is usually commemorated with the eating of fried food and oil-based meals. It may be a boring period especially if you like variety in your diet. This is why ‘Hmph. It is that time of the year when we eat oil-based food only’ can be a good witty response to “Happy Hanukkah.”
- No period is more boring than Hanukkah for me especially because of the selection of food.
- Here we go again eating fried food only.
This Is One Of Those Minor Holidays That Take Too Much Time
If you are talking with a friend or a colleague and they wish you Happy Hanukkah, you can use a response like “This is one of those minor holidays that take too much time” to sound witty and share a laugh. Hanukkah was not recognized as a very significant festival until some years ago. So this joke is not out of place.
- One would think a major holiday would take 8 days and not Hanukkah.
- It’s the not-so-significant holidays that take more time.
If You Are Serving Latkes, I Am Visiting You During Hanukkah
Latkes is one of the meals served during the Hanukkah festival. It is simply potato pancakes prepared with salt and onion. Some people can be creative when they cook Latkes and if the person you are talking to is someone like that, this response would be excellent for them.
- One thing I always look forward to is your Latkes.
- I can’t help but imagine how tasty your Latkes would be.
I Wish I Were In Israel Where Schools Close For The Holiday
As a college student, breaks within the semester are like breakthroughs. While schools in Israel close for Hanukkah, yours may not, which makes a response like “I wish I was in Israel where schools close for the holiday” a warm one.
- You know that schools in Israel go on break for Hanukkah, right?
- It would have been a happy one if we were going on a break.
Thanks To Judith And Alcohol, We Have A Holiday To Celebrate
The emancipation of the Jews which led to Hanukkah came via several events. One of which was Judith feeding Holofernes with cheese which made him thirsty and instead of giving him water, she gave him alcoholic wine.
When Holofernes became drunk, Judith killed him and it allowed for the emancipation to happen. For those who like their beer, this is a lovely way to share a laugh over some bottles.
Hanukkah Reminds Us To Drink And Not Get Drunk, Hahahaha
Another way to sound humorously when someone wishes you a happy Hanukkah is to say “Hanukkah reminds us to drink and not get drunk.” It will make sense when you all are having some drinks and somebody hits you with “Happy Hanukkah.”
As We Try To Illuminate The House, Let’s Be Careful To Not Cause a Fire Outbreak
Candelabra are lit to commemorate Hanukkah and you can give a light-hearted remark about this ritual by saying “As we try to illuminate the house, let’s be careful to not cause a fire outbreak.”
- Be careful not to cause a fire as you are lighting the menorah to celebrate Hanukkah
- Don’t cause a fire lighting up the candles for Hanukkah
No Holiday Is As Demanding As Hanukkah
Every Jew understands how demanding the Hanukkah holiday is. The strain is felt even more when you consider that this is not a major festival.
From having to light the menorah every day for 8 days to playing games, preparing only fried and dairy food, joining in family and communal prayers, and so on. Hanukkah is often considered too stressful for a minor holiday.
- Now I have to prepare special meals every day for the next eight days.
- Do you know what I think? Hanukkah is simply too demanding.
What You Gave Me For Hanukkah Last Year Was Crazy! I Have No Doubt You’ll Surprise Me This Year
Gifts are usually shared during Hanukkah, sometimes every day throughout the holiday. If you received a gift from the person who is wishing you a Happy Hanukkah, you can respond with “What you gave me for Hanukkah last year was crazy. I have no doubt you will surprise me this year.”
Also, you can use this opportunity to say you would want a gift by replying with “I didn’t receive any Hanukkah gift from you last year. Would this year’s Hanukkah be different?”
I Am Glad We Don’t Have To Fast During Hanukkah
Fasting is prohibited during Hanukkah and if you are anything like me, this is good news. You can say “I am so glad we don’t get too fast during Hanukkah” to show why you are happy about the holiday.
- Do you know what I love the most about Hanukkah? We don’t have to fast during the festival, Hahahaha.
- I wish Hanukkah was like every other holiday – no fasting, just Latkes and a few prayers.
Being Lactose Intolerant Sometimes Makes Hanukkah A Nightmare
If you are lactose intolerant and someone wishes you a happy Hanukkah, you can respond by saying “Being lactose intolerant sometimes makes Hanukkah a nightmare.”
If they are the ones who are lactose intolerant, your response could be rephrased like this, “Seeing you are lactose intolerant, how would you deal with feeding during Hanukkah?”
Sometimes, I Wonder Why Hanukkah And Christmas Are Weeks Apart
Hanukkah often falls around late November to early December and replying with “Sometimes, I wonder why Hanukkah and Christmas are weeks apart” when someone says Happy Hanukkah is not out of place.
Think about having Hanukkah immediately followed by Christmas, then New Year celebrations, that’s almost three weeks of holidaying. This makes a response like this funny.
Imagine There’s A Ban on Hanukkah Celebrations
Want to get people talking? Ask them what they’d do or say if the government places a ban on Hanukkah celebrations. They’ll be forced to think deeply and could come up with a lot of hilarious answers too.
- Assume there’s a ban on any form of Hanukkah celebrations? What are you gonna do?
- What’s your first response if there’s an order to not consider Hanukkah a festival anymore?
I Wonder How it Would Be a Happy Hanukkah For You Who’s Still Unmarried
Assuming that someone unmarried wishes you a Happy Hanukkah, you can reply with “I wonder how it will be a happy one for you who’s still not married.” This response will work among friends and even if you are the one who’s not married, you can rephrase your reply to say “It would make a lot of sense for you and not me since I am still single.”
- As a single pringle, Hanukkah is a regular week for me.
- You’d have enjoyed Hanukkah if you were married, hahaha.
Maybe From Now, The Lights Of Hope Will Outlast The Fires Of Hate
During Barack Obama’s regime as president, he celebrated Hanukkah in the White House which was the first time it was celebrated in the United States. At the event, he said ‘May the light of hope outlast the fires of hate.’ You can use this Obama’s wish to send a warm response when someone wishes you a happy Hanukkah.
At Least, You Get The Idea That This is Not The Jewish Version Of Christmas
Suppose the person just got the idea that Hanukkah isn’t the version of Christmas holiday for the Jews, you can say “At least, you get the idea that this is not the Jewish version of Christmas.” If they do not know that, you can ask them to be sure by saying “Hope you know Hanukkah is not Christmas for Jews like many people suppose?”
Do You Know Why We Celebrate Hanukkah For Eight Days?
If a non-Jew wishes you a Happy Hanukkah, you can use the opportunity to tell them what Hanukkah is about. You can explain why Hanukkah lasts for eight days or anything fascinating that relates to the holiday.
- There’s an unbelievable reason why we celebrate Hanukkah for 8 days.
- Do you know what led to Hanukkah in the first place?
The Holiday Would Make Sense If My Boss Gave Me The Week Off
Another chicken response to give when someone tells you Happy Hanukkah is to say “The holiday would make sense if my boss gave me the week off.” Unlike Christmas, Easter, and other religious festivals, there are rarely public holidays given in commemoration of Hanukkah. Hence, a good way to respond with comic relief in this direction would be to say you would have loved the week off.
- Would only be a happy Hanukkah if I didn’t have to go to work.
- I wish I could get a break from coming here, even if it’s just for two days.
Thank You, And I Am Expecting Some Gelts
Gelts are currencies given as presents during Hanukkah. Since they are less common today, candy companies make candies in the form of gelts and they are widely used in place of actual gelts.
Whether you are an adult or not(gelts are meant to be handed to children), you can tell the person who’s wishing you a Happy Hanukkah that you’d be expecting gelts from them.
- Give me gelts when you want to wish me well this Hanukkah.
- I am not too old for gelts, you know.
This is My First Hanukkah Away From Home Which Means No Daily Gifts
“This is my first Hanukkah away from home which means no daily gifts” is another way to give a warm response when someone tells you “Happy Hanukkah.” Normally, gifts are shared every day of Hanukkah, especially among family. So, if you are not spending Hanukkah with family, you may not get the presents that you used to get before. I have highlighted other scenarios where this can play out below:
- I am going home for Hanukkah which means presents, gelts, Latkes, and all.
- There’s just one thing I miss about spending Hanukkah with my family. It is the daily presents I get.
Before You Go,
You can light up the room when you want to respond to someone’s Happy Hanukkah wishes. I am confident you’ve found warm and witty responses that can be used in reply to anyone who tells you Happy Hanukkah. The good thing is, that these responses have been selected to be used whether you are talking with a Jew or someone else.
