How Many Days Until Hanukkah?
When is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah begins at sundown on the eve of the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar and lasts eight nights. The date shown is the evening the first candle is lit.
Hanukkah, the festival of lights, remembers the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. One more candle of the menorah is lit each night for eight nights, and traditions include latkes, sufganiyot, and the dreidel game.
Hanukkah dates by year
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 4, 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | December 24, 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | December 12, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | December 1, 2029 | Saturday |
| 2030 | December 20, 2030 | Friday |
Expected dates. Lunar holidays can move by a day depending on moon sighting and location.
The story of Hanukkah
In the 2nd century BC, the Maccabees led a revolt against the Seleucid Empire and recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, a single day's supply of oil kept the Temple lamp burning for eight days, which is why Hanukkah lasts eight nights.
Foods fried in oil, such as potato latkes and jam-filled doughnuts called sufganiyot, are eaten in memory of that oil. The menorah is often placed in a window so it can be seen from outside.
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