The Festival of Lights or Hanukkah (also sometimes spelled Chanukah) is one of the most joyous and well-known Jewish holidays. In 2026, Hanukkah will start at sundown on December 4 and conclude at sundown on December 12. This eight-day festival begins on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, which means Hanukkah comes every year during late November to December.
What Does Hanukkah Celebrate?
Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees’ recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem from the Syrian-Greek forces of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes and its rededication in 164 B.C.E. The Maccabees, led by a man named Mattathias and his sons, revolted against the Hellenistic authorities. And by the 25th day of Kislev, this undermanned, untrained ragtag group regained control over the Temple, cleansed it from defilement, and rededicated it, which is what Hanukkah celebrates and means: “rededication.”
What is Hanukkah About? The Miracle of Lights
In the Temple, there was an eternal flame that had to remain lit. But when the Jews came into the Temple to light the flame, there was only enough oil to keep it burning for one day. After they lit it, however, a miracle occurred—the lamp remained lit for eight days until the new oil arrived. This miracle is how Hanukkah became known as the “Festival of Lights.”
Thousands of years later, this annual holiday not only observes the rededication of the Temple, but also a rededication to God. It is a symbol of light and hope for a new beginning and a renewed connection with God.
Each night of Hanukkah, Jews light candles in memory of this unforgettable triumph and God’s miracle.
What Is the Meaning of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is about the victory of light over darkness. The battle between the Jews and the Greeks was a battle of ideals and values. The Greeks encouraged immorality, idolatry, and selfishness. The Jews stood for goodness, godliness, and kindness. This was a battle between good and evil, darkness and light. While the Greeks tried to extinguish the light of the Torah, a great miracle happened, and the small group of remaining loyal Jews were able to conquer the darkness.
Discover the many spiritual lessons Christians can learn from this special eight-day holiday that Jesus celebrated (John 10:22) in this Bible study.
Celebrating Hanukkah
At the heart of every Hanukkah observance is the menorah. Next to the Star of David, the seven-branched temple menorah is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Judaism. However, it’s the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah that is used in celebrating Hanukkah.
Lighting the Menorah
The extra ninth candle is known as the shamash (Hebrew for “helper”). It is usually in the center of the menorah. Since the Hanukkah candles are considered holy, they aren’t allowed to be used for any other purpose, like a reading light or lighting another candle. The shamash is used to light the candles instead.
We begin the first night by lighting one candle, adding a candle each subsequent night for the eight days of Hanukkah. It’s important that the candles are evenly spaced apart and about the same height so one can easily tell how many candles are lit instead of confusing the menorah for one big torch.
Before lighting the candles, there are a few blessings to be recited:
- The Shehecheyanu blessing is only said on the first night of Hanukkah, blessing the first observance of the year as the “blessing of firsts.”
- The blessing for the menorah and the candles that are lit upon it is said each night.
- The blessing for God and His devotion to His people is said before the candles are finally lit each night.
Hanukkah Treats and Traditions
One of the traditions is eating fried food like latkes and sufganiyot throughout the holiday. These foods are fried in oil, which plays a symbolic part in celebrating the miracle of lights on Hanukkah. This recognizes the miraculous oil that kept the menorah lit for eight days instead of the one day it was supposed to last.
Another popular Hanukkah tradition is hosting parties and playing games. Many families will host dinner parties. Some may light the candles together, while others bring their own menorahs. Some fun Hanukkah games include Dreidel, Gelt (chocolate coins for children) Lineup, Gelt Checkers, and Menorah Ring Toss.
What is Dreidel?
When the king Antiochus Epiphanes was oppressing the Jewish people and trying to force them to assimilate into Greek culture, it was illegal to study the Torah, upon punishment of death. Jews would conceal their activity by having children play games with a toy outside the home.
Written on the dreidel are the four Hebrew letters of nun, gimmel, hay, and shin, which form the acronym for the phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, “A great miracle happened there,” referring to the miracle of the oil burning in the Temple. In the game of Dreidel, each letter represents whether a player takes or gives gelt or money after a spin.
Find out how much you know about the history and traditions of Hanukkah with our quiz.
Hanukkah Observances and Customs
Like other Jewish holidays, there are a few laws for the observance of Hanukkah. Some Jewish people observe all these laws, while others observe some and not others:
- Do not fast or eulogize.
- Working is allowed; however, it’s customary to refrain from work for the first half hour after the candles are lit.
- Candles must be lit on every night of Hanukkah.
- Read the Hanukkah blessings before lighting the menorah candles.
- The menorah should not be moved once it is lit.
- The menorah should be lit in the company of others and where it can be seen by others such as a windowsill.
Hanukkah Fun
With these fun activities, you can learn words and phrases related to Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Share what you’ve learned with family and friends or see who can complete the challenges first!