<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><base href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/a34486992/when-is-hanukkah-this-year/"><style id="print"></style><title>When Is Hanukkah 2023? - Date, History and Traditions</title><div class="original-url"><br><a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/a34486992/when-is-hanukkah-this-year/">https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/a34486992/when-is-hanukkah-this-year/</a><br><br></div><div id="article" role="article" style="-webkit-locale: "en"; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" class="system exported">
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<div class="page" style="text-align: start; overflow-wrap: break-word; max-width: 100%;"><h1 class="title" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: start; hyphens: manual; display: block; max-width: 100%;">When Is Hanukkah in 2023? Here's When the Festival of Lights Starts</h1><div class="leading-image" style="max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 1.15em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);"><img alt="preview for 8 Hanukkah Facts to Light Up Your Holiday Season" srcset="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/menorah-dreidels-and-hanukkah-coins-with-copy-space-royalty-free-image-1603759250.jpg?crop=1xw:0.84415xh;center,top&resize=640:* 640w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/menorah-dreidels-and-hanukkah-coins-with-copy-space-royalty-free-image-1603759250.jpg?crop=1xw:0.84415xh;center,top&resize=980:* 980w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/menorah-dreidels-and-hanukkah-coins-with-copy-space-royalty-free-image-1603759250.jpg?crop=1xw:0.84415xh;center,top&resize=1024:* 1120w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/menorah-dreidels-and-hanukkah-coins-with-copy-space-royalty-free-image-1603759250.jpg?crop=1xw:0.84415xh;center,top&resize=1120:* 1200w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/menorah-dreidels-and-hanukkah-coins-with-copy-space-royalty-free-image-1603759250.jpg?crop=1xw:0.84415xh;center,top&resize=1200:* 1920w" src="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/menorah-dreidels-and-hanukkah-coins-with-copy-space-royalty-free-image-1603759250.jpg?crop=1xw:0.84415xh;center,top&resize=1200:*" class="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin: auto; display: block; clear: both;" data-unique-identifier=""></div><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="0" style="max-width: 100%;">In a blink of an eye, we will be entering the holiday season once again. From family gatherings to plenty of <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/gift-ideas/g3988/hanukkah-gifts-for-everyone/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/gift-ideas/g3988/hanukkah-gifts-for-everyone/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="Hanukkah gifts" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Hanukkah gifts</a> and games, you may have already started preparing for Hanukkah this year. Plus, there are all the delicious <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g4014/hanukkah-foods/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g4014/hanukkah-foods/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="Hanukkah foods" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Hanukkah foods</a> to think about! From <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/a46929/easy-potato-latkes-recipe/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/a46929/easy-potato-latkes-recipe/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="potato latkes" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">potato latkes</a> and <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a43226/slow-cooker-brisket-recipe/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a43226/slow-cooker-brisket-recipe/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="beef brisket" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">beef brisket</a> to <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g34311639/hanukkah-desserts/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g34311639/hanukkah-desserts/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="Hanukkah desserts" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Hanukkah desserts</a> and <em style="max-width: 100%;">Sufganitoy </em>(<a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a48180/classic-jelly-donuts-recipe/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a48180/classic-jelly-donuts-recipe/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="jelly donuts" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">jelly donuts</a>), there is no shortage of delicious bites and recipes to celebrate this holiday.</p><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="1" style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23725611/what-is-hanukkah/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23725611/what-is-hanukkah/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday</a>, also known as “The Festival of Lights,” and is celebrated over the course of eight days. It’s an important time of year because it commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the menorah candles burning for eight nights. Today, Hanukkah is celebrated all over the world ranging in a variety of traditions, from lit menorahs displayed in windows to preparing foods fried in oil and children winning gelt by spinning dreidels. There are so many special customs to take part in with family and friends.</p><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="2" style="max-width: 100%;">So while you are getting ready for this year’s celebration and searching for festive <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23643967/hanukkah-decorations/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23643967/hanukkah-decorations/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="Hanukkah decorations" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Hanukkah decorations</a> 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 <strong style="max-width: 100%;">when Hanukkah is in 2023</strong> so you can mark your calendars! </p><h2 data-node-id="5" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">When is Hanukkah in 2023?</h2><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="6" style="max-width: 100%;">This year, Hanukkah will <strong style="max-width: 100%;">start on the evening of Thursday, December 7, 2023</strong>. It will <strong style="max-width: 100%;">end on the evening of Friday, December 15, 2023</strong>. 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. </p><h2 data-node-id="7" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Why does Hanukkah fall on a different day each year? </h2><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="8" style="max-width: 100%;">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.</p><h2 data-node-id="9" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">What is Hanukkah? </h2><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="10" style="max-width: 100%;">According to the <em style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanukkah" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanukkah" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="Encyclopedia Britannica" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Encyclopedia Britannica</a></em>, 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.</p><h2 data-node-id="11" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">How many days is Hanukkah?</h2><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="12" style="max-width: 100%;">Each year, <strong style="max-width: 100%;">Hanukkah is eight days long</strong>. This amount of time has significance, as described in the Talmud. According to <em style="max-width: 100%;">Encyclopedia Britannic</em>a, "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. </p><p data-journey-content="true" data-node-id="13" style="max-width: 100%;">Want to learn more about this holiday? These are the <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23725611/what-is-hanukkah/" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23725611/what-is-hanukkah/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="most interesting facts to know about Hanukkah" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">most interesting facts to know about Hanukkah</a>. </p></div></div></div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Reverent Dr. Carolyn Peters, National Federation Of The Blind, Ohio, affiliate, vice president, 937-657-5134,<div>Dr.Carolyn.peters@gmail.com </div><div></div><div></div></div></body></html>