When does Hanukkah start? 2023 first day of Hanukkah

Chanukah (Hanukkah) 2023 starts at nightfall on December 7, 2023 and ends with nightfall on December 15, 2023, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasting for eight days.

So while you are getting ready for this year’s celebration and searching for festive Hanukkah decorations for the home, you may be wondering what day Hanukkah falls on this year. Since this holiday’s date changes every year, we are sharing when Hanukkah is in 2023 so you can mark your calendars!

When does Hanukkah start 2023?

This year, Hanukkah will start on the evening of Thursday, December 7, 2023. It will end on the evening of Friday, December 15, 2023. Each year, Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the Jewish calendar. It ends on the second day of Tevet, which is the tenth month of the Jewish calendar.

Why does Hanukkah fall on a different day each year?

The Hebrew calendar is a lunar one, which means it’s based on the cycles of the moon. Meanwhile, the Gregorian calendar, which is the one most of us use every day, is a solar calendar. That means it’s based on the Earth’s movement around the sun. Since the calendars follow different cycles, a holiday that falls on a fixed date on one calendar will fall on a different day each year on the other.

What is Hanukkah?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Hanukkah is a festival that “reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.” The celebration was instituted by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC to commemorate his victory over Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who had invaded Judaea and tried to outlaw Judaism. The festival is celebrated by lighting the menorah each night, reciting special prayers, and eating delicious foods.

How many days is Hanukkah?

Each year, Hanukkah is eight days long. This amount of time has significance, as described in the Talmud. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “When Judas Maccabeus entered the [Second Temple of Jerusalem], he found only a small jar of oil that had not been defiled by Antiochus. The jar contained only enough oil to burn for one day, but miraculously the oil burned for eight days until new consecrated oil could be found, establishing the precedent that the festival should last eight days.” Today, that means we get more time to celebrate with friends and family.