Eight nights beginning the 25th of Kislev (late November or December)
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after a small band of Jewish fighters known as the Maccabees drove out the Seleucid Greek forces that had defiled it in the second century BCE.
Tradition remembers a further miracle: when the Maccabees came to relight the Temple menorah, they found only a single day's worth of consecrated oil, yet it burned for eight days until more could be prepared. The eight nights of candle lighting recall that miracle, celebrating religious freedom and the endurance of a small people against long odds.
Each night an additional candle is lit on the nine-branched hanukkiah using the helper candle called the shamash. Candles are set from right to left but kindled newest first, so the number of flames grows from one to eight.
The menorah is traditionally displayed in a window or doorway to publicize the miracle, sharing the light with the street.
The four-sided top is marked with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hey, and shin, standing for the phrase a great miracle happened there. Players wager and win small pieces of chocolate gelt.
Coins of real or chocolate money, called gelt, are shared with children, and many families exchange small gifts across the eight nights.
Crisp fried potato pancakes served with applesauce or sour cream. Fried in oil to recall the miracle of the oil. See the recipe.
Jelly-filled donuts, another oil-fried treat central to the holiday table.
Gold-foiled chocolate coins used in the dreidel game and given to children.
The everyday English greeting, warm and welcome from anyone.
Happy holiday, the all-purpose Hebrew greeting for any festival.
Happy Festival of Lights, a greeting specific to Hanukkah.
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, holds nine candles: one for each of the eight nights plus the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others.
Foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, recall the miracle of the small jar of oil that burned for eight days in the rededicated Temple.
Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls in late November or December on the secular calendar, and lasts eight nights.
Read the full history and traditions in our Hanukkah holiday guide, browse traditional Jewish recipes, look up terms in the glossary, or see the dates on the Hebrew calendar.