To me, the most exciting thing about Hanukkah — which is coming up on December 25 — is getting to wear my Hanukkah sweaters for eight days.
I love, love, love Hanukkah sweaters. I grew up in Israel, so they just don’t have the tacky Christmas party connotation for me. In fact, I wear some of my more fashionable ones all year round. There’s something about tying Jewish pride and maximum coziness that I’m especially excited about this year.
But let’s be frank for a second: some Hanukkah sweaters? They’re bad. I mean really, really bad. From using non-Hanukkah-related Jewish puns like “meowzel tov” (to whom? the Maccabees?) to some slightly antisemitic stereotypes (“gelt digger?!”), these sweaters are just super fetishizing and inappropriate. It’s almost like… there’s a non-Jewish person making them? Hmmm…
But, after wading through all the bad options, I’ve managed to pull together the creme de la creme of Hanukkah sweaters — or at least a few fun, topical ones that you and your family might get a kick out of. This year, we have plenty of exciting Hanukkah offerings (the Target Hanukkah and the Hanukkah pajama market are similarily thriving).
Here are my favorite Hanukkah sweaters for 2024:
Kids' sweaters
A beautiful embroidered splurge perfect for a fancy family Hanukkah dinner party.
An adorable embroidered outfit from Monica + Andy.
Octopuses (octopi?) are the perfect animals for Hanukkah sweaters. After all, they have a tentacle for each night of Hanukkah.
I love bagels, and I love bad puns, so I suppose this sweater is made for me? Eating bagels isn't really a Hanukkah tradition, but I do spread holiday schmear on every Jewish holiday, from Shabbat to Sukkot — just not on Passover, of course.
One cat pun is not enough! This sweater has three, perfect for the cat lovers among us.
Know a kid who has one too many Squishmallows? Get them one on a sweater!
What's better than a new Hanukkah sweater? Turning a plain old sweater into a Hanukkah one, of course! This kit allows you to make an adorable llama-themed Hanukkah sweater, a truly perfect Hanukkah crafting project.
This sweatshirt features a quote from Adam Sandler's iconic "Chanukah Song" ("instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights") which is also the name of his somewhat ill-advised 2002 Hanukkah film. It's a simple and lovely little sweater fit for any kid-friendly holiday party.
I love the clean design of this sweater and the fact that you can personalize it with your child's name. There's something so nice about having a unique sweater, made for you.
Adult Sweaters
It's Larry David. On a Hanukkah sweatshirt. It's pretty, pretty, pretty awesome.
Hanukkat Sweater (Etsy)
These Jewish cats are so nice and chonky and ready to munch on some latkes.
This menorah sweater with reversible sequins on its candles can be tailored for each night of Hanukkah. That's low-key genius, if you ask me.
Broadway Menorah (Etsy)
"Fiddler on the Roof" is the shamash in this Broadway-themed Hanukkah sweater — as it should be.
I like how this sweater looks like a sports team sweatshirt. I, too, am team "Hanukkah 8 nights."
A beautiful Hanukkah sweater that comes in four different colors and supports our wonderful sister site Hey Alma? Yes please.
This Hanukkah vest has a wrong holiday pun and dreidels with the letters in the wrong order but it's a VEST and so I am willing to forgive it. Is there anything more perfect than a holiday vest? And why can't we get more of them?!
There is no better Hanukkah special than "A Rugrats Chanukah," and therefore, there is no better Hanukkah sweater than a "Rugrats" Hanukkah sweater. I don't make the rules.
For your resident "Paw Patrol" fan. Yes, you know the one.
Finally, a Hanukkah pun I can fully get behind as a lover of Hanukkah tunes and sufganiyot.
When things get dark, I like to remind myself that we live in a world where you can get your pet's face printed on a custom Hanukkah sweater.
Look at BB-8 lighting this menorah! He's even lighting the candles from left to right. Such a perfect droid.
There's no better Hanukkah party than a SpongeBob Hanukkah party. Just don't ask him why he's lighting little effigies of his house in this pineapple menorah.
Sometimes you just need a classy knit dreidel sweater.
Is this sweater of a tallis and kippah-wearing dinosaur lighting a menorah on top of a volcano the most unhinged Hanukkah sweater I've ever seen? Yes, and I love it.
Apparently having four hands makes you better at spinning the dreidel, at least if this sweater of Stitch from the hit Disney film "Lilo & Stitch" is to be believed.
When you think of it, Hanukkah is the perfect holiday for bedazzled things, so I'm surprised this is the only bedazzled Hanukkah sweater on this list.
This, indeed, is how we roll, Mickey.
A "Care Bear" Hanukkah sweater wasn't on my bingo card for this year, but I'd argue this is the year where we need love, caring and some comforting nostalgia.
How stylish is this llama? Love that pink kippah, the purple spectacles and all the sequins on this sweater.
Hanukkah Dog Sweaters
Is there anything more adorable than your dog? Your dog in a custom Hanukkah sweater, of course.
This dreidel print is so great I wish it came on a human sweater.
If you, like most dog owners, love your dog (a latke), this dog sweater is for you (well, for your dog, but you get the gist).
It seems to me that Dog & Co just won the Hanukkah sweater game. This sweater is perfect, no notes.
