When Is the First Night of Hanukkah 2025? Dates, Meaning, and Traditions

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December 14, 2025

Menorah lighting during Hanukkah 2025, the Jewish Festival of Lights

When Is the First Night of Hanukkah 2025? Dates, Meaning, and Traditions

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. In 2025, Hanukkah begins on Sunday, December 14, and lasts for eight days.

The holiday’s dates change each year because Hanukkah follows the Hebrew calendar, not the Gregorian calendar.

What Is Hanukkah and Why Is It Celebrated?

Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebel fighters who reclaimed Jerusalem’s Holy Temple in 165 BCE. According to Chabad.org and ReformJudaism.org, the holiday symbolizes faith, perseverance, and the triumph of religious freedom.

The miracle of Hanukkah is traditionally associated with the oil that lasted eight days in the Temple’s menorah, despite there being enough oil for only one day.

Hanukkah Traditions and Celebrations

During Hanukkah, families and communities observe several long-standing traditions, including:

Lighting the menorah each night for eight nights
Eating fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes)
Playing the traditional game dreidel
Gathering with family for prayers and celebrations

These customs highlight the themes of light, hope, and resilience.

Is Hanukkah the Most Important Jewish Holiday?

Although Hanukkah is one of the most well-known Jewish holidays—largely because it often falls near Christmas—it is not the most significant holiday in Judaism.

According to the University of Southern California and Henry Ford College, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day of the Jewish year. Along with Rosh Hashanah, it forms the two High Holy Days in the Jewish faith.