▷ Why Do Hanukkah Dates Change?

With its eight days of joyous celebrations and its unique customs, Hanukkah is one of the most beloved festivals on the Jewish calendar. But why do Hanukkah dates change?

The Nature Of The Festival

Hanukkah is celebrated by Jews all over the world to commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV in the 2nd century BCE. This holiday marks the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. After the Maccabees’ victory, the menorah, or seven-branched lamp, was lit, restoring the Temple to its original worship.

The Hebrew word for Hanukkah is “ḥănukkéh” which literally means “rededication”. The holiday lasts for eight days and is celebrated by lighting a special candle each evening known as the menorah. Every night of the holiday, one extra candle is lit until all eight candles are lit at once on the final day of Hanukkah. This custom honors the miracle of the oil that miraculously burned for eight days when the Temple was rededicating.

Why Do Hanukkah Dates Change?

Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev – the 9th month of the Jewish calendar. However, the Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning it follows the phases of the moon. As such, the new month begins after a complete lunar cycle each year, which lasts about 29 days. Therefore, the exact day on which Hanukkah is celebrated changes from year to year.

In addition, since the Jewish calendar is a combination of both solar and lunar cycles, occasional adjustments must be made in order for the calendar to remain in accordance with both celestial bodies. During each 19-year cycle in the Jewish calendar, an extra month is added seven times. This extra month is known as an ‘intercalary’ or ‘leap’ month. When this occurs, the months are shifted back and the festival of Hanukkah is also shifted back in the calendar. For this reason, the dates on which Hanukkah is celebrated moves about 4 days earlier each year.

Conclusion

Hanukkah is a special and joyous holiday that is celebrated worldwide by Jews. Despite its fixed location in the calendar, the exact dates when this holiday is celebrated can vary yearly due to the nature of the Jewish lunar calendar. The understanding of why Hanukkah dates change, therefore, is essential to understanding the importance of this holiday and how it is celebrated.

To conclude, although the dates of Hanukkah change due to its location on a lunar calendar, its joyous nature and warm traditions remain. It is these traditions, which are shared worldwide, that make this holiday so special and beloved.

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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.