Hanukkah – also spelled Chanukah or other transcriptions from Hebrew – is Judaism’s “Festival of Lights”. On eight consecutive eves, Jews gather with family and friends to light another candle in the menorah – a many-branched candelabra.

Watch the lighting ceremony at 4:00 PM EST in our player above.

Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, and the holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century B.C. BC, after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from foreign occupying forces.

REGARD: US soldiers perform “Ocho Kandelikas” for Hanukkah

Using the tiny supply of ritually pure oil they found in the temple, they lit the menorah – and it remained lit for eight days. The ritual of lighting a candle in the evening as well as the emphasis on cooking food in oil, such as: B. potato pancakes, so-called latkes, are reminiscent of this wonderfully long-lasting oil.

When is Hanukkah 2024?

The holiday’s dates are based on the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually coincides with November-December in the Gregorian calendar.

This year, Hanukkah will be celebrated from December 25, 2024 to January 2, 2025. It is only the fifth time since 1900 that Hanukkah has fallen on Christmas Day.

Why is Hanukkah so late this year?

The simple answer is that the Jewish calendar is based on lunar cycles and does not agree with the Gregorian calendar, which sets Christmas on December 25th. Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, a date that falls between late November and late December in the Gregorian calendar.

Does the observance of Hanukkah differ?

Jews across the spectrum of religious practices—from Reform to Conservative to Orthodox—are focused on the same theme: bringing light to the darkness and emphasizing that even a small act, against all odds, can have a transformative effect.

For this reason, although the Talmud reflects a dispute over the order of lighting, most begin with one candle and increase the lighting by one more candle each evening while reciting or chanting special blessings.

The candles are added from right to left, but are lit from left to right on the menorah, always starting with the newest light. The special menorah used for Hanukkah has eight branches, with a ninth place for the candle called Shamash, from which all others are lit.

Traditionally, candles with a real flame are used, but for safety reasons some also use electric candles for public displays, such as in hospitals.

How is Hanukkah celebrated?

A menorah is lit in every household and traditionally placed where it can be seen from the outside, such as on a door or window sill, to symbolize the spread of God’s light to all nations.

The lighting of menorahs in urban streets and parks has gained importance in recent years in countries around the world, including in front of public landmarks.

In addition to lighting the menorah, for many the celebration also includes donations to charities and social causes, reflecting the belief that the Jewish people are called by God to help make the world a better place for everyone.