When Does Hanukkah Start and More Facts
When is Hanukkah? In 2022, this eight-day “festival of lights” begins on Sunday, December 18, at sundown. Learn all about Hanukkah dates, customs such as the nightly menorah lighting, and special foods.
What Is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah (also spelled “Chanukah”) is an eight-day winter “festival of lights,” which begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev.
Because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the dates of Jewish holidays according to the Gregorian calendar change from year to year. For this reason, the beginning of Hanukkah can range from late November to late December.
In short, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and of spirituality over materiality. Read on to learn more about the history of Hanukkah.
When Is Hanukkah?
In 2022, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 18, and continues through Monday, December 26. The first candle is lit on the Chanukiah (menorah) on the first night of Hanukkah.
Note: Hanukkah begins and ends at sundown on the dates listed below. See Sunrise and Sunset Times for your area.
| Year | Hanukkah Begins | Hanukkah Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Sunday, December 18 | Monday, December 26 |
| 2023 | Thursday, December 7 | Friday, December 15 |
| 2024 | Wednesday, December 25 | Thursday, January 2, 2025 |
| 2025 | Sunday, December 14 | Monday, December 22 |
A Short History of Hanukkah
This festival commemorates events that took place in Judea more than 2,000 years ago, when the Syrian king Antiochus ordered the Jews to abandon the Torah and publicly worship the Greek gods.
This act provoked a rebellion led by Judas Maccabeus, climaxed by the retaking of the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the Syrians. The army of Jews won, despite their small numbers.
In an eight-day celebration, the “Maccabees” (as the rebels came to be known) cleansed and rededicated the Temple.
According to the Talmud, there was only enough consecrated oil to re-light the candelabra for one day, yet, miraculously, it remained lit for eight days.
What Does the Word “Chanukah” (or “Hanukkah”) Mean?
The word chanukah means “inauguration” or “dedication.” After the rebellion, the Temple was in ruin, including the alter. The Maccabees buried the stones of the altar and built a new one. Thus, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple and the altar.
How do you pronounce “Hanukkah”? The Hebrew word is actually pronounced with a guttural, “kh” sound: kha-nu-kah, not tcha-new-kah.
How Hanukkah is Celebrated
The central feature of the observance of is the nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah, an eight-branched candelabra with a place for a ninth candle, the shammes, used to light the others.
One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, and an additional candle is lit on each successive night, until, on the eighth night, the Chanukiah is fully illuminated.
Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Lights or Festival of Lights due to the importance of the candle-lighting.
Hanukkah Recipes to Try
Traditional Hanukkah recipes include foods fried in oil, to commemorate the original miracle of the oil. Dairy products are also popular during Hanukkah.
Some of the most popular foods include latkes (fried potato pancakes), applesauce, sufganiyot (deep-fried or jelly doughnuts), and rugelach pastries.
Many Hanukkah meals are eaten communally to bring together friends and family, especially if they need to reconcile.
Hanukkah Customs
Consumer gifts are not a custom; the menorah’s candles are meant to recall the miracle—and focus on this religious purpose. Traditionally, money was given to charity, with more given each day as the candles were lit. This originated with the need for even the poor to have money for the candles, so they could go door-to-door without any shame.
