Timing is everything. You've probably noticed that Hanukkah seems to wander around the winter months like a lost traveler. One year it’s crashing your Thanksgiving dinner, and the next, it’s basically part of your New Year’s Eve countdown.
Honestly, the big question on everyone's mind right now is when is Hanukkah 2024? If you’re trying to plan your vacation or just want to know when to start frying up the potatoes, here is the short answer: Hanukkah 2024 begins on the evening of Wednesday, December 25, and ends on the evening of Thursday, January 2, 2025.
Yes, you read that right.
In a rare scheduling quirk, the first night of the Festival of Lights falls exactly on Christmas night. It’s the ultimate "Chrismukkah" scenario that hasn't happened since 2005.
The Calendar Chaos: Why Does the Date Always Change?
It’s not just you; it really is confusing. Most of the world runs on the Gregorian calendar, which is solar-based. But the Jewish calendar is lunisolar. It tracks the phases of the moon while also throwing in "leap months" to stay somewhat in sync with the sun.
Basically, Hanukkah always starts on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Since a lunar year is about 11 days shorter than a solar year, the holiday "drifts" backward every year until a leap month (Adar II) pushes it back forward. This is why you’ll see Hanukkah anywhere from late November to late December.
For 2024, the stars aligned to put that first candle right in the middle of the winter break.
The 2024 Lighting Schedule (Night by Night)
You don't just light all the candles at once. That would be too easy. You build the light slowly, one flame at a time. Because Jewish holidays start at sundown, the "first day" of Hanukkah actually begins on the evening before the date listed on most wall calendars.
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- Night 1: Wednesday, Dec 25 (The "Christmas Night" candle)
- Night 2: Thursday, Dec 26
- Night 3: Friday, Dec 27 (Special timing: light before the Shabbat candles)
- Night 4: Saturday, Dec 28 (Wait until after Shabbat ends to light)
- Night 5: Sunday, Dec 29
- Night 6: Monday, Dec 30
- Night 7: Tuesday, Dec 31 (The New Year’s Eve candle)
- Night 8: Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025 (The final, brightest night)
The holiday officially wraps up at nightfall on Thursday, January 2.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Story
Most of us learned the "Sunday School" version. There was a tiny jar of oil, it was only supposed to last for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight. Boom. Miracle.
But if you look at the history, it’s way more complicated—and kinda gritty.
The Maccabean Revolt wasn't just a group of Jews fighting against the Syrian-Greek Empire (led by the pretty villainous Antiochus IV). It was also a civil war. You had traditionalist Jews fighting against Hellenized Jews who wanted to blend in with Greek culture. When the Maccabees finally took back the Second Temple in Jerusalem, it was a mess. It had been used to sacrifice non-kosher animals and was generally desecrated.
The rededication—which is what the word Hanukkah actually means—was a political and spiritual reclamation. Some historians, like those at Chabad.org and the Farmers' Almanac, suggest the eight-day length was actually because the fighters had missed the eight-day festival of Sukkot while they were hiding in the mountains. They just decided to hold a belated version once they won.
The Rituals You Actually Need to Know
If you're attending a party or hosting your first one, there are a few "non-negotiables."
The Menorah (Hanukkiah)
Technically, it's called a Hanukkiah. A regular Menorah has seven branches; this one has nine. Eight for the days of the miracle and one "shamash" (helper candle) that sits higher or lower than the rest. You use the shamash to light the others.
The Fried Food Rule
Calories don't count during Hanukkah. Sorta. Because the miracle involves oil, the tradition is to eat food fried in oil.
- Latkes: Crispy potato pancakes. The real debate isn't whether to eat them, but whether they get topped with applesauce or sour cream. (Applesauce is the right answer, but I won't judge).
- Sufganiyot: These are jelly-filled donuts dusted with powdered sugar. In Israel, you'll find them filled with everything from chocolate to pistachio cream.
The Dreidel Game
It's a four-sided spinning top. Each side has a Hebrew letter: Nun, Gimmel, Hey, and Shin. They stand for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham—"A great miracle happened there." If you're playing in Israel, the last letter is a "Peh" for "A great miracle happened here."
You play for "gelt" (chocolate coins). It's basically low-stakes gambling for kids, which is probably why it's so popular.
Practical Steps for Hanukkah 2024
Since the holiday overlaps with the peak of the winter holiday season this year, things are going to be busy. If you want to celebrate without the stress, here is how to handle the 2024 timing:
1. Buy Your Candles Early
Every year, there is a "candle run" about two days before the holiday starts. Since the first night of Hanukkah 2024 is Christmas, many stores might be closed or have limited hours right when you need that box of 44 candles. Get them in early December.
2. Prep the Latkes in Advance
You can actually grate the potatoes, squeeze out the liquid, and fry the latkes a week early. Freeze them on a baking sheet and then pop them in a hot oven to crisp them up on the night of. It saves your house from smelling like a deep fryer for eight straight days.
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3. Navigate the "Double Holiday" Logistics
If you have a multi-faith household or friends who celebrate both, Wednesday, December 25th is going to be a marathon. Plan for a morning of Christmas traditions and an evening Menorah lighting. It’s a unique year where you can literally do both without having to choose a weekend to "reschedule" one of them.
4. Check Sunset Times
The candles should be lit as soon as stars appear in the sky (except for Friday night). In late December, that’s usually around 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM depending on where you live. Set a phone alert so you don't realize at 8:00 PM that you missed the window.
Hanukkah 2024 is going to be a bright spot at the end of a long year. Whether you’re there for the history, the faith, or just the donuts, knowing the dates is the first step to getting it right.
To get ready, verify your local sunset times for December 25th and ensure you have a "Shamash" candle ready to go for that first Wednesday night.