Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an important holiday celebrated by those of the Jewish faith. Every year millions of people around the world observe this holiday over the course of 8 days, either by lighting the Menorah or eating sufganiyot. As the Hanukkah season quickly approaches, many of us are left wondering: How many days for Hanukkah?
How Many Days for Hanukkah?
The answer to this question is quite simple: Hanukkah is observed over 8 days. Although some people mistakenly believe that the holiday lasts for one week, that is not quite the case. The celebration begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, which is a lunar month that changes year to year, and the 8th day of Hanukkah usually falls in early or mid-January (it’s always on the same English calendar date, though, no matter what time of year the holiday is).
The 8 days of Hanukkah are thought to represent the 8 nights that the Hanukkah Menorah, or candelabra, was lit in the temple after a successful victory against the Syrian-Greek forces. To commemorate this event, those of the Jewish faith observe this holiday each year with a number of special rituals and traditions. Not only do they light the special candles on the menorah, but they also partake in special dinners, exchange gifts, and play games.
Observing 8 Days of Hanukkah
On each night of Hanukkah celebrants light one more candle, together making an 8-shaped candelabrum by the end of the 8 days. On the first night, one candle is lit and each night that follows another candle is added until all 8 are lit. How this lighting is done is very specific as well; on the first night the newest/shammash candle is lit first, and the other candles are then lit from left to right.
Additional traditions associated with Hanukkah also include:
- Eating traditional foods such as potato latkes and sufganiyot
- Playing the dreidel game for fun and prizes
- Exchanging gifts on each night of the festival
- Singing traditional songs and hymns
Depending on the region and home, other traditions might be observed as well.
Celebrating Year After Year
No matter where people celebrate Hanukkah, the observance is always for 8 days. Each year the holiday falls on the same calendar date, but as mentioned earlier, the beginning of the 25th day of Kislev is determined by a lunar calendar.
So, people of the Jewish faith celebrate Hanukkah for 8 days each year, either with gifts, meals, and games or by simply lighting the menorah. The traditional holiday is a powerful reminder of the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks and the regaining of the temple. Hopefully this article has helped to provide a better understanding of the festival and how many days it is celebrated.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.