Hanukkah is one of the most important holidays for Jews around the world. While many non-Jews know about the festive celebration of lights, many are curious to know when Hanukkah occurs the following year. This article covers the basics of when Hanukkah is celebrated and how this date is determined year to year.
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When Is Hanukkah Next Year?
What Date Does Hanukkah Start?
The date of Hanukkah depends on the Hebrew calendar, a lunar calendar that changes over the years. In 2021, Hanukkah will start in the evening of Thursday, December 2 and will end the evening of Friday, December 10. In the Hebrew calendar, days start at sunset. Therefore, Hanukkah will start on December 2 and end on December 10.
How Is the Date of Hanukkah Determined?
The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning that months are based on the cycle of the moon’s phases (lunar calendar), whereas the years are based on the solar cycle (solar calendar). The Jewish calendar tracks both the phase of the moon and the cycle of the sun to determine the changing of the months.
As the Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the month, can fall on almost any day of the week. In order to make the holidays fall consistently on the same type of weekdays (i.e., all on Sundays, all on Mondays, etc.), small fractions of days are occasionally added or removed from certain months.
Since the festival of lights, Hanukkah, is celebrated in the month of Kislev on the 25th day of Kislev, it too can fall on nearly any day of the week. With the help of intercalary adjustments, Hanukkah is usually celebrated slightly earlier than it appears on the modern Gregorian calendar.
Common Questions About Hanukkah
- How long is Hanukkah? – Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days and nights
- What is the Hebrew name for Hanukkah? – Hanukkah’s Hebrew name is חֲנֻכָּה, which is pronounced Chanukah or Chanukkah
- What are the key traditions of Hanukkah? – The key traditions of Hanukkah include the lighting of a menorah, playing dreidel, eating latkes, and giving presents
- What does Hanukkah celebrate? – Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem that took place in 165 BCE
In summary, Hanukkah will start in the evening of Thursday, December 2 in 2021 and will end the evening of Friday, December 10. The date of Hanukkah is determined by the Hebrew calendar, a lunisolar calendar which tracks both the phase of the moon and the cycle of the sun. Common traditions of Hanukkah include the lighting of a menorah, playing dreidel, eating latkes, and giving presents. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem that took place in 165 BCE.
No matter when it is celebrated, Hanukkah is a festive holiday and a cherished Jewish tradition that is celebrated by Jews around the world.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.