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Hanukkah 2025, the Jewish Festival of Lights, began at sundown on December 14 and continues through December 22. The holiday commemorates the Maccabees' rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of oil lasting eight days.​
About
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.​
Historical Background
- The festival marks the victory of Judah Maccabee and his followers, who reclaimed and purified the Temple in 164 BCE following desecration by Antiochus IV.
- A key miracle involved a small cruse of oil that burned for eight days instead of one, inspiring the holiday's duration and rituals.​
Key Observances
- Hanukkah spans eight nights, beginning on the 25th of Kislev (typically late November to December), with a nine-branched menorah called a hanukkiah lit progressively each evening using the shammash candle.
- Traditional foods like potato latkes and sufganiyot, fried in oil, symbolize the miracle, alongside games like dreidel and gift exchanges.​
Cultural Significance
- Observed worldwide, Hanukkah emphasizes themes of light triumphing over darkness, religious freedom, and resilience, often publicly displayed by placing menorahs in windows.
- In 2025, it starts around December 14, aligning with winter solstice themes in the northern hemisphere.​
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