Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated yearly for eight days, to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. Beginning on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, the holiday commemorates the victory against the Syrian-Greeks by the Maccabees in 164 BCE, and the miracle of a single-day’s worth of oil lasting eight days in the Temple. The celebration is commemorated by the lighting of the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, one candle for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, plus a ninth candle to light all of the others. From traditional games to the eating of special foods like latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), Hanukkah is widely celebrated as a joyous holiday for Jews of all backgrounds. So when does Hanukkah really start?
Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, a month on the Hebrew calendar that corresponds to late November-December. The Hebrew calendar has 12 months of 29 or 30 days, with an extra month (Adar I) inserted every two to three years in order to keep the calendar aligned with the lunar and solar year. Kislev is the ninth month of the year, and is the first month of the Jewish year in which Hanukkah falls.
The celebration of Hanukkah begins with the lighting of the very first candle on the first night. It is customary to light one additional candle each night of Hanukkah, adding a total of eight candles to the menorah. After the appropriate blessings over a cup of wine or grape juice, said by the head of the household, and the Hanukkah chant (“Ma’oz Tzur”) are recited, the blessing for the first night is said over the lighting of the first candle. After that, all subsequent candles are lit. On the last night of Hanukkah, all eight candles and the Shamash (the “helper”) candle, are lit.
In addition to lighting the Hanukkah menorah, there are a few other customs associated with the celebration of the holiday – including eating traditional Jewish foods like fried potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). Additionally, young children often play dreidel, a traditional spinning top game, exchanging coins or chocolate coins.
Hanukkah is an important holiday for Jews of all backgrounds – a time for celebration, family, and reflection. While it is a joyful occasion for many, it is also an important time to consider the miracle of Hanukkah and its significance to the people of Israel. Over 2,200 years ago, the Jewish Maccabee forces liberated the Holy Temple, and the oil which was expected to last one night lasted for eight nights instead – the miracle of Hanukkah. This miracle of faith and courage is commemorated still today, every year for eight nights during the month of Kislev.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.