What is Hanukkah? When the Jewish holiday is celebrated in 2023 and what it means
Hanukkah is a time of celebration that mainstream media and pop culture depicts as a time filled with dreidels and wonderful food, but it is also a time for reflection and remembrance in the Jewish community.
Known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, long-standing traditions of Hanukkah for many in the Jewish faith means a time to gather with family and friends with the retelling of a story of resistance and resilience of those that came before.
This year, Hanukkah is set to start on Thursday, Dec. 7 and will last for eight days and eight nights.
Here's a look at everything you need to know about Hanukkah and the traditions that surround this holiday.
When is Hanukkah 2023?
Hanukkah runs from sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 to sundown on Friday, Dec. 15 in 2023.
How many days does Hanukkah last?
The festival of lights lasts for eight days, and eight nights.
What does Hanukkah mean?
Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew.
Why is Hanukkah celebrated?
The holiday, widely known as the Festival of Lights, is also the Festival of Rededication in Jewish culture. It honors the victory of the Macabee soldiers over the Syrian-Greek army, along with the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C.E., according to Britannica.
The Macabees victory, led by Judah, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to their God. According to the stories handed down through generations, the Macabees only had enough oil to ignite the temple light for one night, and yet it burned for eight days.
What is a menorah and why is it lit during Hanukkah?
The menorah, or hanukkiah, is a symbol of the oil lamp that Judah Macabee found in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. One candle is lit each night to mimic the oil that burned in the Holy Temple during the eight days.
Is Hanukkah the same time every year?
The Hebrew Calendar not the Gregorian calendar, which is what is used as a standard calendar in much of the world, is used to determine the dates of Hanukkah each year. This creates a shift in when the holiday is celebrated each year.
The first day of Hanukkah is always on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar which is based on the movements of the sun and moon.
Who celebrates Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is celebrated amongst those of the Jewish faith — along with friends and family members invited to celebrations — around the world.
USA Today contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When is Hanukkah 2023? Celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights
