Hanukkah begins the evening of the first day and runs for eight nights, a time of light, memory, and togetherness. This well-known Jewish festival is also called the festival of lights and is marked by prayers, stories, shared meals, and family bonding. The history behind Hanukkah centers on a period of oppression faced by Jewish communities, and the courageous efforts of the Maccabees helped reclaim and rededicate the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, a moment described in standard histories and by reputable sources in Jewish scholarship.
Hanukkah, also known as the festival of lights, is observed over eight days and eight nights. In today’s calendars the holiday often appears in late fall or early winter, with the exact dates shifting yearly due to the Hebrew lunar calendar. The observance commemorates a historical victory when Jewish forces, led by Judah Maccabee, defeated their oppressors and rededicated the Temple, a story preserved in classical histories and widely shared in communal memory by scholars and educators alike.
The eight-day celebration centers on a miracle tied to the temple’s rededication: a small amount of ceremonial oil, enough for a single day, miraculously burned for eight days. This miracle allowed time to prepare sanctified oil and complete the temple rites. In Jewish tradition, the story is a symbol of faith, perseverance, and hope, and it is recounted in religious teachings and cultural histories that families share year after year, as noted by major reference works on Judaism.
The dates for Hanukkah vary from year to year as the Hebrew calendar and lunar cycle shift. The festival begins at sundown on the first night and continues for eight nights with candle lighting, blessings, songs, and storytelling. To determine the exact dates for a given year, individuals can consult a current Jewish calendar or contact their local synagogue or community center for the annual schedule, a practice commonly advised by community resources.
Did you know?
- During Hanukkah, many people enjoy fried foods such as latkes and sufganiyot to recall the miracle of oil and the abundance it symbolized. Families often serve these treats with applesauce or fruit preserves, and some add other fried specialties to celebrate abundance.
- There are numerous spellings of Hanukkah in English, including Chanukah, Channukah, Hanukah, and Chanukkah, reflecting different transliteration traditions from Hebrew and Yiddish. Language guides and cultural history resources commonly note this variety.
- Spinning the dreidel is a cherished game for children, with chocolate coins, or gelt, often serving as prizes. The game features a four-sided top inscribed with Hebrew letters that spell out a simple phrase about miracles.
- A menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum used during Hanukkah. The center candle, called the shamash, is used to light the other eight candles, one more on each night of the festival.
- The word Hanukkah comes from a Hebrew root meaning dedication, reflecting the rededication of the Temple and the spiritual renewal associated with the holiday.
- Occasionally the calendar places Hanukkah unusually early or late in the year. Such timing quirks are rare and, according to calendar experts, unlikely to repeat in the near future with the same pattern, making each year’s observance feel unique.