When Does Hanukkah Start in 2024?
Chanukah (Hanukkah) 2024 starts at nightfall on December 25, 2024 and ends with nightfall on January 2, 2025, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasting for eight days.
Chanukah in Other Years:
- 2025: December 14-22
- 2026: December 4-12
- 2027: December 24, 2027- January 1, 2028
- 2028: December 12-20
What Is Hanukkah?
Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah) is an 8-day Jewish festival marking the miraculous victory of the Maccabees, Jewish freedom fighters, over the Seleucidian Greek occupiers in the year 139 BCE. 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.
Read: The Story of Chanukah
How is Hanukkah Celebrated?
On each of the eight nights of Chanukah, Jewish people light special menorahs (candelabras), adding another flame each night, until on the eighth night eight flames are burning brightly. The lighting takes place at home, in a doorway or near a window, and is performed after brief blessings are recited.
On Chanukah, it is customary to play with dreidels, tops upon which four Hebrew letters, nun, gimmel, hay, and shin, are written.
In modern times, communal menorah lightings are often held in public squares, sharing Chanukah’s message of the triumph of light over darkness and freedom to worship G‑d.
Hanukkah Foods
To commemorate the miracle, which involved oil, oily foods are enjoyed on Chanukah. Since the Middle Ages, doughnuts (sufganiyot) have been a Chanukah favorite. Among Ashkenazim, potato pancakes (latkes) are also a classic. It is also customary to eat dairy on Chanukah, recalling how the brave Yehudit served cheese and wine to a Greek general before defeating him.
Relevant Chanukah Links
What is Chanukah?
Chanukah blessings in Hebrew, English, and audio
Full-length menorah lighting guide
The Chanukah story
Daily Chanukah calendar
And here is a video of the Rebbe, with a very inspiring Chanukah message:
Happy Chanukah from your friends at Chabad.org!
See Also
When is Rosh Hashanah in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is Yom Kippur in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is Sukkot in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is Purim in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is Passover in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is Shavuot in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
When is the Ninth of Av in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?
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