▷ Why Is Hanukkah In December?

Hanukkah is a special holiday that is celebrated in December across the Jewish diaspora. It is a time of joy and celebration that often takes place around the same time as Christmas, although the two holidays are not related. But why is Hanukkah celebrated in December?

Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. In the Hebrew calendar, Kislev is usually in November-December. Consequently, the holiday is often celebrated in December according to the Gregorian calendar as well.

The Latest Date for Hanukkah in the Gregorian Calendar

According to Jewish tradition, Hanukkah should be celebrated for eight days and nights beginning on the 25th day of Kislev. The earliest date that this can fall in the Gregorian calendar is November 28, and the latest date is December 26. As a result, the holiday usually takes place in December.

Why Is It Celebrated in December?

The main cause for why Hanukkah takes place in December is because it dates back to the time of the Maccabees. In the second century B.C., the Maccabees fought against the Syrian-Greeks for religious freedom. During this process, they reclaimed the Temple and rededicated it, which is commemorated by the holiday of Hanukkah. The Maccabees used a new Hebrew calendar to mark the date of their victory on the 25th day of Kislev.

Due to this, the holiday is celebrated in December in the Gregorian calendar, making it coincide with Christmas festivities and giving it a Christmas feel. But it is still important to remember that Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday and is unrelated to Christmas.

Symbols and Meaning

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It is a time of celebration and remembrance of one of the most important events in Jewish history. During Hanukkah, Jews gather to light candles, play dreidel, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional foods, such as potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). These activities are meant to remind us of the miracles that occurred during the war and the miracle of one-day’s worth of oil lasting eight days, which led to the rededication of the Holy Temple and supremacy of the Jewish faith.

Hanukkah is an important holiday that is celebrated in December each year and commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greeks and the reinstatement of Jewish sovereignty. Hanukkah is not associated with Christmas but it is often celebrated around the same time, and many of the activities associated with the holiday, such as kindling the Hanukkah lights, exchanging gifts, and making traditional foods, bring joy and happiness to Jewish people around the world.

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