Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. It is a time of joyous celebration, in which families and friends light the eight-branched Menorah, and exchange gifts and wishes. But when does Hanukkah start?
Determining When Hanukkah Begins
Hanukkah is determined by the Jewish calendar, which follows a lunar cycle. This means that the date of Hanukkah changes year to year, just like the dates of Easter and Passover. Hanukkah always falls in either November or December and usually begins on the 25th day of the Hebraic month of Kislev. The exact date of Hanukkah is determined when the new moon appears in the sky of Jerusalem, which typically happens around the 20th or 21st day of Kislev.
The Relationship Between Hanukkah and Christmas
The timing of Hanukkah can make it appear that the holiday is related to Christmas, since one often falls near to the other. In fact, Hanukkah dates back thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, so it is important to remember that the two holidays are not related at all.
The Jewish Holiday Calendar
The Jewish calendar features numerous religious and festive holidays that commemorate major events or special stories in the Jewish faith. Here are just a few of the important dates that fall on the Jewish calendar:
- Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year
- Yom Kippur: The day of Atonement
- Passover: Celebrates the Exodus from Egypt
- Shavuot: The Feast of Weeks, also known as the Feast of Pentecost
- Sukkot: The Jewish harvest festival
- Tu Bishvat: Festival of the Trees
Although Hanukkah is not one of the holiest of holidays, it has become one of the most widely known and celebrated among Jews.
In sum, Hanukkah marks an important moment in Jewish history and each year it is celebrated in the 25th day of Kislev according to the Jewish lunar calendar. This celebration has no connection to Christmas, but it is one of the most public and socially engaging holidays of Judaism.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.