Hanukkah is a special holiday for both Jews and non-Jews throughout the world, but why does Hanukkah change dates every year according different calculations? It can be confusing but the reasoning makes sense.
Hanukkah is derived from the Hebrew words meaning ‘dedication’ and ‘consecration’. It is an 8-day celebration that remembers the miracles that occurred in the year 165 BCE when the Maccabees were fighting against the Greeks. When the Maccabees beat the Greeks, they rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem and needed oil to light the temple’s Menorah. Unfortunately, when they looked for oil, all they could find was a single bottle that was only enough to keep the menorah lit for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for 8 days, so Hanukkah is an 8-day celebration to honor the Jewish victory and the miracle of the oil lasting.
Interesting regarding Hanukkah are the dates it can occur. Jewish holidays will always fall on the same Hebrew date, however, the date is converted to the solar-based Gregorian calendar to allow Jews all around the world to celebrate together on the corresponding day. This is because the Hebrew calendar is lunar-based, meaning its days, months and years are based on the moon and not the sun. The months and years keep in sync with the agricultural season in Israel but sync up with the Gregorian calendar once every few years. This accounts for why Hanukkah can land as early as late November and can even extend to late December at times, which can cause confusion amongst some people.
Additionally, Hanukkah occurs eleven days earlier each year in the Hebrew calendar when compared to the previous year in the Gregorian calendar, due to the month’s position in a 19-year cycle. When this cycle ends, an extra month is added every two or three years to keep the festivals during the spring. Therefore, by the end of the 19-year cycle, the holiday is eleven months, or eleven days, earlier than it was at the beginning.
Overall, it is important to be aware of why Hanukkah changes dates every year and how it is calculated depending on the Hebrew calendar. Even though Hanukkah can fall in either November or December, its fundamental meaning will never change. Hanukkah is a miraculous holiday that celebrates the 8 days of oil that lasted and the Jewish victory. It is celebrated by many different cultures including a mixture of secular and religious adherents. Regardless of how the dates occur, Hanukkah will always be honored and celebrated.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.