▷ How Many Days Are There In Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is a popular festival in the Jewish tradition, celebrated each year by people around the world. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BC. One of the main parts of the celebration is the lighting of the menorah during each night of the 8-day festival. This raises the question of how many days are there in Hanukkah?

Hanukkah: How Many Days Are There?

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday, starting on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar year. This date on the Gregorian calendar typically falls between late November and late December and the start and end dates of the festival will vary each year. The festival of Hanukkah celebrates the restoration of the Jewish people’s sacred Temple and represents a time of spiritual renewal.

It is during the festival of Hanukkah that the menorah is lit each night which is the main tradition and focus of the celebration. This menorah is also known as the candelabra and is lit for eight nights. Traditionally there is one flame for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah and they are removed one by one until the last night, on which the menorah is fully lit.

In order to answer the question ‘How many days are there in Hanukkah?’; we need to consider the way that the Hebrew calendar is divided and the Jewish traditions associated with this festival. The Hebrew calendar year is divided into 12 months, with 365 days in a year with an extra day added on the leap year. As Kislev is the 9th month on this calendar, the 25th day of this month marks the start of the 8 day duration of Hanukkah. Therefore, the total period of time that Hanukkah is celebrated for is said to be 8 days.

The Ritual of Lighting Menorah During Hanukkah

Hanukkah traditionally involves the lighting of a menorah each night as part of a symbolic ritual. A shemah or a prayer is said on each of the eight nights as the flame is taken from the previous night’s menorah and used to light the new one. The prayers for each night start with the Hebrew letter Shin, “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” meaning “A great miracle happened there”, “She-asah Nisim” meaning “Miracles were done” and “Shehecheyanu” that is a prayer of thanksgiving.

At the time of the Maccabean Revolt, the Temple was cleansed and rededicated. It was at this time the oil for the menorah was replenished. It is said that although there was only been enough oil to last one day the light from the menorah miraculously lasted for eight days.

During the time of the festival of Hanukkah, it is traditional to light a menorah in the home each night and to enjoy food that consists of fried and dairy products. This is associated with the story as it is said the Maccabees, during their rededication of the temple, challenged the Syrian Greeks to a feast. It is during this feast that a toasted cheese cake, made by the Maccabean matriarch Yiona, was served in the temple.

Throughout Hanukkah, songs are sung and presents exchanged in recognition of the miracles that were said to have occurred and to celebrate the redemption of the Jewish people.

To conclude, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah takes place over 8 days, with a menorah lit on each of these nights. The time of the festival and the significance of it in the Jewish calendar year, often referred to as the Festival of Lights, is a time to remember the miracles that occurred during the Maccabean Revolt and to give thanks for this victory.

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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.