Hanukkah 2026

How the date of Hanukkah is set

Hanukkah begins on 25 Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. A Jewish day starts at sunset, so the first candle is lit on the evening before, and this calendar lists that first evening. The first evening falls between November 27 and December 26 in the Gregorian calendar, which is why Hanukkah sometimes overlaps with Thanksgiving and sometimes with Christmas. In 2026 the eighth candle is lit on Friday, December 11, 2026, and the holiday ends at nightfall the next day. In 2027 Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 24, 2027.

The story of Hanukkah

The word Hanukkah means "dedication". The holiday recalls the Maccabean revolt, when a small Jewish army led by Judah Maccabee defeated the forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV and rededicated the Second Temple in Jerusalem in about 164 BCE. According to the Talmud, the Maccabees found only one small jar of pure oil for the Temple menorah, enough for one day, but it burned for eight days. The eight nights of the holiday commemorate that miracle.

Lighting the menorah

The main custom is lighting the hanukkiah, a menorah with nine branches: eight for the nights of the holiday and one for the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others. One candle is lit on the first night, and one more is added each night until all eight burn on the last. Families say blessings, sing songs such as "Maoz Tzur" and often place the menorah in a window so the light can be seen from the street.

Food, games and gifts

Foods fried in oil recall the miracle of the oil: potato latkes, often served with applesauce or sour cream, and sufganiyot, jelly doughnuts popular in Israel. Children play with the dreidel, a four-sided top with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hei and shin, which stand for "a great miracle happened there". Many families give gifts or Hanukkah gelt, chocolate coins or money, especially in the United States, where the holiday became more prominent because it falls near Christmas.

Hanukkah in the United States

Public menorah lightings are held in many cities. The National Menorah near the White House has been lit every year since 1979, and many presidents have hosted a Hanukkah reception. In 2013 the first day of Hanukkah fell on Thanksgiving, a rare overlap nicknamed "Thanksgivukkah". Hanukkah is not a federal holiday: offices, schools and stores are open, and work is allowed during the eight days.

More events to plan for

• Christmas Eve 2026 Thursday, December 24, in 57 days
• Rosh Hashanah 2027 Friday, October 1, in 338 days
• Yom Kippur 2027 Sunday, October 10, in 347 days

Sources

• Hebcal: Jewish holidays and dates
• Wikipedia: Hanukkah