Hanukkah is one of the most festive and joyous holidays of the Jewish calendar. The Festival of Lights honors the Jewish victory and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. Every year, families gather to retell the story of the Maccabees’ courage and faith. But when is Hanukkah each year?
Hanukkah begins on the Hebrew calendar date of 25th of Kislev and lasts for eight days. To determine when it begins each year in the Gregorian calendar, first consider the Hebrew month and year Kislev occurs in. If Kislev occurs in Cheshvan (the Hebrew month of October-November) or Iyar (the Hebrew month of April-May), then the 25th of Kislev is the 8th day of Chanukah – in the Gregorian calendar this would be the 16th of December. If Kislev occurs in the Hebrew month of Heshvan (November-December) or Sivan (May-June), the 25th of Kislev (the first day of Hanukkah) is the 3rdof December of that Gregorian year.
Table of Contents
When Is Hanukkah Celebrated?
Hanukkah, which is also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated every year in the Hebrew month of Kislev, on the 25th day of Kislev. The celebration usually runs for eight nights and days, during which a special menorah or Hanukiah is lit with candles each night.
How Do We Know When Hanukkah Is?
Determining when Hanukkah starts each year can be a little tricky since the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning that the months in the calendar follow the cycles of the moon. Each year, Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev and continues for eight days in total.
Computing the Date of Hanukkah
To figure out when Hanukkah will occur in our Gregorian calendar, we need to consider the length of the Hebrew year and its months. The length of a given Hebrew year can range from 353 days to 355 days to 383 days to 385 days long. Since the months adhere to the cycle of the moon, those months range from twenty-nine to thirty days.
Is the Date of Hanukkah Fixed?
The date of Hanukkah is not fixed in the Gregorian calendar. If the Hebrew month of Kislev begins in the Hebrew month of Heshvan (November in the Gregorian calendar), then Hanukkah begins on the 3rd of December in the Gregorian calendar. If the Hebrew month of Kislev begins in the Hebrew month of Cheshvan (October in the Gregorian calendar), then Hanukkah begins on the 16th of December in the Gregorian calendar.
A Quick Look-up Guide to Hanukkah in the Gregorian Calendar
- From the Hebrew month of Heshvan: Hanukkah begins on the 3rd of December.
- From the Hebrew month of Cheshvan: Hanukkah begins on the 16th of December.
- From the Hebrew month of Kislev: Hanukkah begins on the 30th of November.
As the Hanukkah holiday celebrates the courage and faith of the Maccabees, it is an important part of the Jewish calendar. By understanding when the Hebrew month of Kislev occurs, it is easy to figure out when Hanukkah is each year in the Gregorian calendar. No matter what the date, it’s always a time for special gatherings, festive foods, and celebration.
Related Products:
- When Is Hanukkah Every Year?
- When Is Hanukkah Next Year?
- Why Is Hanukkah On Different Days Every Year?
- Why Is Hanukkah Different Days Each Year?
- Why Is Hanukkah So Late This Year?
- When Is Hanukkah Celebrated Each Year?
- What Is The Date Of Hanukkah This Year?
- What Day Is Hanukkah This Year?
- Why Is Hanukkah Different Every Year?
- When Does Hanukkah Start Every Year?
- Why Does The Date Of Hanukkah Change Every Year?
- Why Does Hanukkah Begin On Different Days Each Year?
- When Is Hanukkah Celebrated This Year?
- How Long Is Hanukkah This Year?
- What Time Is Hanukkah This Year?
Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.