What Is Chanukah? Meaning, Dates, and How to Celebrate the Festival of Lights
Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish festival that begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt. It is observed primarily at home by lighting the chanukiah (a nine-branched menorah) each night, adding one candle per night, reciting blessings, and eating foods fried in oil such as latkes and sufganiyot. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunar, the secular dates shift each year; check a current Jewish calendar for the exact start date in your location, since the festival begins at sunset.
What Chanukah Commemorates
The story behind the festival has two connected parts.
The Maccabean revolt
In the second century BCE, the Seleucid Greek empire ruled Judea and imposed restrictions on Jewish practice, including the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem. A priestly family known as the Maccabees led a revolt, retook the Temple, and rededicated it. The eight days of Chanukah correspond to the rededication and the delayed celebration of Sukkot that followed.
The miracle of the oil
According to the Talmud, when the Maccabees wanted to relight the Temple menorah, they found only enough ritually pure olive oil for one day. The oil burned for eight days instead — the source of the "Festival of Lights" name and the reason the holiday lasts eight nights.
When Chanukah Falls
Chanukah begins on 25 Kislev and runs for eight days. In the Gregorian calendar it usually lands in late November or December, though the exact dates change every year.
| Reference point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hebrew start date | 25 Kislev |
| Duration | 8 days |
| Secular season | Typically late November–December |
| Start time | Sunset on the eve of 25 Kislev |
Because the dates move, confirm the current year's start and end dates with a Jewish calendar or your synagogue before planning. Candle lighting happens in the evening, so the first "day" of Chanukah actually begins the night before the date listed on many calendars.
How to Light the Chanukiah
Lighting the menorah is the central ritual of the holiday. The chanukiah has eight branches for the eight nights plus a ninth holder, the shamash (helper candle), which is used to light the others.
The order of lighting
- On the first night, place one candle in the far-right holder (as you face the menorah).
- Each subsequent night adds one more candle, moving left to right.
- Light the shamash first, then use it to light the other candles.
- Light the newest candle first, then proceed right to left.
- Recite the blessings before or while lighting, depending on custom.
The blessings
On the first night, three blessings are said; on the remaining nights, two:
- Blessing 1: Thanking God for commanding us to kindle the Chanukah lights.
- Blessing 2: Thanking God for the miracles performed for our ancestors.
- Blessing 3 (first night only): The Shehecheyanu, thanking God for bringing us to this season.
After lighting, many families sing Maoz Tzur and other songs.
Placement and timing
The menorah is traditionally placed where it can be seen — near a window or doorway — to publicize the miracle. Candles should burn for at least half an hour after nightfall. On Friday night, light before Shabbat candles; on Saturday night, light after Havdalah.
What You Need to Celebrate
The essentials are simple, and most items are reusable year to year.
- Chanukiah (menorah): Eight branches plus a shamash holder. Available in metal, glass, ceramic, or wood.
- Candles: Standard Chanukah candles fit most holders; oil with wicks is an alternative.
- Dreidel: A four-sided spinning top used for the traditional game.
- Sufganiyot or latkes: Fried foods that recall the oil miracle.
- Gelt: Coins or chocolate coins, often used for the dreidel game and gifts.
If you are buying a set for the first time, a sturdy metal chanukiah with a tray to catch wax is the most practical choice. Families with young children often prefer a chanukiah with wide, stable candle holders.
Common Customs
Beyond lighting, several customs shape how the holiday is observed.
Food
Because the miracle involved oil, fried foods are traditional. Ashkenazi families typically eat latkes (potato pancakes); Sephardi and Israeli families often eat sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). Dairy foods are also customary in some communities.
Dreidel and gelt
The dreidel game uses a spinning top marked with four Hebrew letters — nun, gimel, hey, shin — an acronym for "a great miracle happened there." Players ante with coins, nuts, or chocolate gelt and take or give based on the letter that lands up.
Gift-giving
Giving gifts or gelt is a relatively recent custom, especially in North America, and is not required by Jewish law. Many families emphasize charity (tzedakah) alongside or instead of gifts.
Songs and prayers
Maoz Tzur is the best-known Chanukah hymn. The Al HaNissim prayer is added to the Amidah and Grace After Meals during the eight days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Chanukah last? Eight days, beginning on 25 Kislev.
Do you light all eight candles on the first night? No. You light one candle the first night and add one each night, so all eight (plus the shamash) burn on the final night.
Can you light the menorah if you live alone? Yes. The obligation applies to each household, and one person can light on behalf of the home.
Is Chanukah a major religious holiday? It is widely observed and beloved, but in traditional Jewish practice it is a minor festival compared with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover. Its importance comes from the publicizing of the miracle and the home-centered rituals.
Where can you buy a menorah, candles, and other Chanukah items? Judaica retailers such as Alljudaica, the online division of Rosenblum's World of Judaica (established 1941), carry menorahs, candles, dreidels, and related items alongside Jewish books and holiday goods. Check current availability and shipping details directly with the seller.