Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the historic military victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks in 165 BCE. This celebration has become known as the “Festival of Lights” and is observed for eight days and nights beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. During this time, many festivities and traditions are incorporated into the observance including candle lighting, gift giving and eating special fried foods. So when is Hanukkah this year and how do you know what day it is?
The exact date that Hanukkah starts each year varies but always falls within late November or December. The day Hanukkah begins is determined by the Hebrew calendar which follows a lunar cycle rather than solar cycles the way our Gregorian calendar operates. As such, the beginning of Hanukkah moves around on our calendar from year to year as observed by the Jewish community.
Calculating the Date of Hanukkah
With the Hebrew calendar being lunar-based, the length of the calendar year is 354 days, rather than 365 days per year on the Gregorian calendar. This means that the Hebrew calendar “falls behind” our calendar by about 11 days each year. However, the Hebrew calendar does incorporate a leap month every two to three years to help it align with the Gregorian calendar.
When Does Hanukkah Begin?
Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, so the exact date changes each year on our calendar depending on when the 25th of Kislev falls. It could be in November as early as the 28th or as late as December. This is why the exact date for Hanukkah is different each year.
Finding the Date of Hanukkah for a Given Year
To find out what day Hanukkah falls on for a given year, you can consult a Hebrew calendar which typically lays out all the Jewish holidays for the entire year. If you don’t have access to a physical calendar, many websites feature a Hebrew calendar which will list the exact dates for all of the Jewish holidays. Additionally, there are numerous apps for both Android and iOS which can provide the date of Hanukkah for any given year. Therefore, finding out what day it is for Hanukkah should not be a difficult task.
So that is when and how to determine what day is it of Hanukkah. Remember, Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday full of traditions and will always begin on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. Use a physical Hebrew calendar or one available online or through an app to find out the exact day of Hanukkah for any given year.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.