Hanukkah, also known as the festival of lights is a joyful Jewish holiday that is celebrated every year with parties, games and songs. Hanukkah is also known as the festival of dedication because it celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after Jewish forces defeated the Syrian armies. The main theme of Hanukkah is to commemorate the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil burning for eight days until more could be obtained.
Hanukkah is celebrated annually on the Hebrew calendar beginning on the 25th day of Kislev. The dates for Hanukkah typically fall somewhere in November or December, as the Hebrew calendar is based on a lunar cycle and is about 11 days longer than the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah is always celebrated for 8 days and nights and usually starts at sundown of Kislev 25 through sundown on Tevet 3. As Kislev can start at different times each year, the exact dates for Hanukkah can change from year to year.Table of Contents
When Was the First Hanukkah?
The first Hanukkah was celebrated in 165 BCE and is recorded in Jewish historical books from the same time period. The book “I Maccabees 4:36-59” includes an account of the miracle and first celebration. It is said that after the Temple was rededicated, “the people of Israel established that the celebration should be held each year for eight days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev.”
How Do Jews Celebrate Hanukkah?
Each night on Hanukkah, a single candle is lit on a candelabrum, known as a menorah. This candle-lighting ceremony is to honor and remember the miracle of the single day’s worth of oil that burned for eight days until more could be obtained. Traditionally, Jews also sing songs and play games.
Main Hanukkah Traditions
- Lighting the Menorah
- Playing dreidel
- Eating latkes
- Giving gifts or Hanukkah gelt
What is the Modern Significance of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah continues to be celebrated as a reminder of freedom of choice, faith and survival in the face of overwhelming odds. During the holiday, people gather together, light the Menorah, recite the blessings, sing songs, exchange gifts of Hanukkah gelt and remember the miracles that took place.
The Hanukkah dates can be quite unpredictable, but it always falls sometime in the months of November or December. The candles, singing and special treats associated with Hanukkah will always be a reminder of the strength of the Jewish faith and culture, celebrating the dedication of the Second Temple and the miraculous events of long ago.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.