When is Hanukkah 2023? Know history, significance and celebrations of Judaism's Festival of Lights

Hanukkah also spelled Chanukah, is Judaism's festival of lights. It commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The festival is observed for eight nights and days, starting from the 25th day of Kislev as per the Hebrew calendar, which occurs from late November to late December.

As the festival is around the corner, here we are with detailed information regarding when and how the festival is celebrated.

When is Hanukkah 2023?

This year, the festival of light will be celebrated from December 7 to December 15 according to the Gregorian calendar. Jews across the world will focus on the theme of bringing light into the darkness.

Hanukkah history and significance

The event that inspired the Hanukkah festival took place during a turbulent phase of Jewish history. Around 200 B.C., Judea, also known as the Land of Israel, came under the control of Antiochus III, the Seleucid king of Syria, who allowed the Jews living in the place to continue practising their religion. According to ancient sources, his son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, outlawed the Jewish religion and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. Soon after an unrest occurred and an army led by the Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons, a large-scale rebellion broke out against Antiochus and the monarchy. Within two years, the Jews were successful in driving the Syrians out of Jerusalem. Since then the Jews started celebrating this day like a festival.

How is Hanukkah celebrated?

The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a 'menorah' or 'hanukkiah'. One branch is typically placed above or below the others, and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. Each night, an additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the festival's final night. The candles are added from right to left but are lit from left to right of 'menorah' or 'hanukkiah - indicating the start from newest.

Other than lighting candles, Hanukkah celebrations include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based and fried foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot.