Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that falls in December every year, but the dates change on a year-to-year basis. This is because Hanukkah’s dates are based on the Jewish calendar, not the Gregorian calendar that we use to mark Christmas.
In 2024, the beginning of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day. This year, the start of Hanukkah will come earlier, on the second Sunday of December, and will be over before Christmas comes. The celebration is marked by the lighting of candles for each of the eight days, each symbolizing something different.
Here’s when Hanukkah 2025 begins and ends, why and how the holiday is observed and when Hanukkah will fall in 2026.
When does Hanukkah 2025 start, end? First day of Hanukkah coming up
Hanukkah 2025 starts at sunset this Sunday, Dec. 14 and ends at sunset on Monday, Dec. 22, according to chabad.org.
In 2024, Hanukkah began on Christmas Day and ended right after New Year’s Day, running from Wednesday, Dec. 25, through Thursday, Jan. 2.
When will Hanukkah fall in 2026?
The holiday will be even earlier in 2026, falling from Dec. 4-12.
Why is Hanukkah never on the same day?
The date for Hanukkah is based on the Hebrew calendar, which is different than the Gregorian calendar. It falls on the same date in the Hebrew calendar, the 25th of Kislev.
Also called the Jewish calendar, the Hebrew calendar is based on the moon, with a “leap” month added when needed.
What is Hanukkah and how is it celebrated?
Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah — which means dedication — is an eight-day Jewish festival that marks “the miraculous victory of the Maccabees, Jewish freedom fighters, over the Seleucidian Greek occupiers in the year 139 BCE,” chabad.org says.
“After recapturing Jerusalem’s Holy Temple, which had been converted into a place of idol worship, they searched for pure oil with which to light the Temple menorah. They found just enough to burn for one day, but miraculously it burned for eight days until more oil could be brought.”
On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, a candle is lit on a menorah. Each candle has a different meaning, according to rabbibarbara.com:
To commemorate the miracle, which involved oil, oily foods are enjoyed during the holiday. It’s also customary to play with a dreidel, a four-sided top.
Are gifts given on Hanukkah?
“In today’s consumer-driven society, people tend to place great importance on giving Chanukah gifts,” chabad.org said.
“However, the tradition is actually to give Chanukah gelt, gifts of money, to children. In addition to rewarding positive behavior and devotion to Torah study, the cash gifts give the children the opportunity to give tzedakah (charity).”
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: When is the first night of Hanukkah? Hanukkah 2025 starts this weekend
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud and Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
