When is Hanukkah 2025? What to know about Jewish festival of lights

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival of lights that marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It's celebrated with candle lighting, special prayers and fried food. Here's what to know about the holiday and when it starts in 2025.

When is the first night of Hanukkah?

Hanukkah begins on the eve of Kislev 25, according to the Jewish calendar, and continues for eight days. In the Gregorian calendar, it is typically celebrated in the month of December. This year, Hanukkah begins on Dec. 14 and concludes Dec. 22.

While traditions for Hanukkah can vary family to family, most include lighting candles in the menorah for eight consecutive nights.

How many days does Hanukkah last?

The festival of lights lasts for eight days. This year it will begin the evening of Dec. 14, and ends the evening of Dec. 22. 

Who celebrates Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is observed by the Jewish people.

What does Hanukkah celebrate?

In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C., after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from occupying foreign forces.

With the tiny supply of ritually pure oil that they found in the Temple, they lit the menorah — and it stayed lit for eight days.

How is Hanukkah celebrated?

Central to the annual festival is the nightly menorah lighting. One candle is lit each night. The menorah holds nine candles, one of which is the shamash (meaning "attendant,") which is used to light the other eight.

According to Chabad.org, special blessings are recited, often to a traditional melody, before the menorah is lit, and traditional songs are sung afterward.

How do you light the menorah?

A menorah is lit in every household and often placed in a window or doorway. They are also lit in synagogues and public places.

The candles are added from right to left, but lit from left to right on the menorah, thus always starting with the newest light. The special menorah used for Hanukkah has eight branches, with a ninth place for the candle called shamash from which all others are lit.

What is the dreidel?

A dreidel is a four-sided top bearing the Hebrew letters, nun, gimmel, hei and shin. They are an acronym for nes gadol hayah sham, meaning “a great miracle happened there.” On Hanukkah, it's traditional to play with a dreidel for a pot of coins, nuts, or other items. The game is won or lost based on which letter the dreidel lands when it is spun.

What are traditional Hanukkah foods? Fried dishes, latkes

Fried foods are typically eaten during Hanukkah, since the Hanukkah miracle involved oil. Classics include a potato pancake (latke) garnished with applesauce or sour cream and jelly-filled doughnuts (sufganiyot).

Latkes, Israel: Traditionally made for Hanukkah, latkes are potato pancakes that are fried in plenty of oil, then served with toppings such as sour cream or apple sauce. Much like potato chips, it’s pretty much impossible to eat just one latke, which is unfortunate since each tiny treat has about 5 grams of fat.

Hanukkah recipes

• Check out these recipes from Louisville chefs that put a spin on popular dishes. 
• Four terrific Hanukkah dishes everyone should eat. 
• Try making latkes at home with these easy recipes.