Hanukkah is a popular festival celebrated by Jews around the world, and is especially important to the Jewish faith as it celebrates the Miracle of Hanukkah, which occurred over 2000 years ago. On Hanukkah, we commemorate the Maccabees’s victory over the Syrians and the renewal of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Syrians defiled it. Hanukkah lasts 8 days, but what was the first day of Hanukkah?
The first day of Hanukkah is always the 25th of Kislev of the Hebrew Calendar, which is why it is usually known as ‘Kislev 25’. The Hebrew Calendar follows the lunar cycles, and because of this, the dates of Hanukkah may vary slightly each year, albeit between the 25th of Kislev and the 2nd of Tevet. This year (2020), the first day of Hanukkah falls on 10th December.
When Was The First Day Of Hanukkah Established?
The first day of Hanukkah was established upon the destruction of the Hellenistic Syrian forces around 2,000 years ago. The Maccabees and their followers fought for religious freedom, and when they ultimately won the battle, they had to revisit the Temple and de-Hellenize it. When they entered the Temple, they found only a single light and a tiny jar of pure oil that could last only one day, and yet, it miraculously lasted 8 days, allowing enough time to prepare an additional supply of oil. Thus, to commemorate this miracle for eternity, the Jewish people celebrate 8 days of Hanukkah, with the first day of Hanukkah being the day when the miracle occurred.
What Do We Do On The First Day Of Hanukkah?
On the first night of Hanukkah, we have an extra-special Hanukkah candle-lighting. As we light the very first candle of Hanukkah, we recite the blessings with great reverence and pride. Then, we typically gather around the table to eat the traditional foods such as latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly-filled donuts), and more. Then, we proceed to light the rest of the candles and many people exchange gelt (Hanukkah coins) between family members. Finally, we sing traditional Hanukkah songs and dance with joy to celebrate the miracle of the oil.
The first day of Hanukkah is the start of an 8-day celebration that commemorates the Maccabees’ victory over the Syrians and the renewal of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev each year, and is marked with a special candle-lighting offering great reverence and pride. On the night of the first day of Hanukkah, we typically gather around the table to eat traditional foods such as latkes and sufganiyot, light the candles and exchange gelt. We also sing traditional Hanukkah songs and dance together to celebrate the miracle of the oil that lasted 8 days.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.