Hanukkah is a joyous eight-day festival observed by Jews around the world. But what determines when Hanukkah is? This religious holiday commemorates a Jewish spiritual victory and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem more than two millennia ago. The answer is rooted in the Jewish calendar and calculated based on astronomical events.
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What is the Jewish Calendar?
The Jewish calendar is based on a lunar cycle and is used to identify suitable dates for religious observance. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar, the Jewish calendar is calculated using a combination of lunar and solar cycles. This lunar-solar calendar has an added leap month, or Adar Bet, every two or three years to keep the calendar regulated according to the seasons.
What Astronomical Event Does Hanukkah Mark?
The religious celebration of Hanukkah marks the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon more than two thousand years ago. The rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees symbolized the struggle against the Greek oppression of the Jews and their yearning for freedom. Hanukkah is observed on the 25th day of Kislev, a month in the Jewish calendar, and it is this event that determines when Hanukkah takes place.
How Is Hanukkah Determined?
Hanukkah is determined by the Jewish calendar, which is in turn determined by astronomical events. The exact date is calculated according to the new moon. As soon as the new moon is sighted, the month of Kislev begins and Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev. However, since the sighting of a new moon is subject to the weather, the exact date of Hanukkah may vary every year.
Why Does Hanukkah Last for Eight Days?
This holiday is celebrated for eight days, rather than the usual one day, to commemorate the miracle of the Temple oil that kept burning for eight days. In particular, this miracle was celebrated by the Jewish people as a momentous religious event and a driving force against the tyranny of the Greeks.
In conclusion, Hanukkah is determined by the Jewish lunar-solar calendar and is marked by the 25th day of Kislev. This event commemorates the Maccabees’ rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, which provided freedom to the Jewish people. Finally, it is celebrated for eight days to remember the miracle of the Temple oil.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.