Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that involves the lighting of candles and celebration of the miraculous victory of the Judean Maccabees over the ancient Greek-Syrian forces in the second century BCE and the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday is marked by eight days of festive lighting of an eight-branched candelabrum called a Menorah, family gatherings, traditional food, singing, playing games with a four-sided spinning top called a dreidel, and giving charity and presents. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Kislev, which usually falls in November or December.
Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Kislev. The exact date of Kislev may vary from year to year, which is why the date of Hanukkah may change from year to year. Since Kislev is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah usually occurs in late November or early December.The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it is based on both the cycle of the moon and the solar year. The beginning of the lunar month is determined by the first sighting of the new moon, and the lunar months are approximately 29-30 days in length. Each month, except for the months of Adar I and II in years that do not contain a leap year, has a 29th day, which is known as a “leap” day. In Jewish calendar leap years, which occur every two to three years, a thirtieth day is added to the month of Kislev. As a result, there may be occasional years in which Hanukkah is observed for nine days instead of eight.
Observance of Hanukkah
During Hanukkah, Jews celebratethe Maccabees’ victory and the miracle of the oil by lighting a special candelabrum, called a hanukiah, for eight nights. On each night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is added to the hanukiah until all eight candles are lit. A hanukiah is often placed in a prominent place in a home and lit near a window so outsiders can also see the candlelight.
Additional Hanukkah customs include:
- Spinning The Dreidel: A four-sided top called a dreidel is spun by children at Hanukkah. The dreidel originally had four Hebrew letters on its sides, nun, gimmel, hei, and shin, which stand for the Hebrew phrase, “A great miracle happened there.” This phrase echoes the miracle of the oil on which the holiday is based.
- Eating Traditional Hanukkah Foods: Traditional Hanukkah foods include latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). These foods are held in a deep-fryer in remembrance of the miracle of the oil that the Maccabees recovered.
Hanukkah is a time for celebration, reflection, and thankfulness. Although it is perhaps best known for the practice of lighting the eight-branched Menorah, or Hanukkah candelabrum, the holiday is rooted in Jewish history and is an important part of celebrating the identity of the Jewish people. Hanukkah is observed for eight days, starting on the 25th of Kislev, and although the exact date may change from year to year, celebrating and reflecting on the miracles of Jewish history can be done no matter when it falls.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.