When Does Hanukkah Start in 2023?

Chanukah (Hanukkah) 2023 starts at nightfall on December 7, 2023 and ends with nightfall on December 15, 2023, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasting for eight days.

Chanukah in Other Years:

2023:   December 7-15

2024:   December 25-January 2

2025:   December 14-22

2026:   December 4-12

2027:   December 24- January 1, 2027

What Is Hanukkah?

Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah) is an 8-day Jewish festival marking the miraculous victory of the Maccabees, Jewish freedom fighters, over the Seleucidian Greek occupiers in the year 139 BCE. After recapturing Jerusalem’s Holy Temple, which had been converted into a place of idol worship, they searched for pure oil with which to light the Temple menorah. They found just enough to burn for one day, but miraculously it burned for eight days until more oil could be brought.

Read: The Story of Chanukah

How is Hanukkah Celebrated?

On each of the eight nights of Chanukah, Jewish people light special menorahs (candelabras), adding another flame each night, until on the eighth night eight flames are burning brightly. The lighting takes place at home, in a doorway or near a window, and is performed after brief blessings are recited.

On Chanukah, it is customary to play with dreidels, tops upon which four Hebrew letters, nun, gimmel, hay, and shin, are written.

In modern times, communal menorah lightings are often held in public squares, sharing Chanukah’s message of the triumph of light over darkness and freedom to worship G‑d.

Read: How to Celebrate Chanukah

Hanukkah Foods

To commemorate the miracle, which involved oil, oily foods are enjoyed on Chanukah. Since the Middle Ages, doughnuts (sufganiyot) have been a Chanukah favorite. Among Ashkenazim, potato pancakes (latkes) are also a classic. It is also customary to eat dairy on Chanukah, recalling how the brave Yehudit served cheese and wine to a Greek general before defeating him.

Browse: 17 Festive Recipes for This Chanukah

Relevant Chanukah Links

What is Chanukah?
Chanukah blessings in Hebrew, English, and audio
Full-length menorah lighting guide
The Chanukah story
Daily Chanukah calendar

And here is a video of the Rebbe, with a very inspiring Chanukah message:


Happy Chanukah from your friends at Chabad.org!

See Also

When is Rosh Hashanah in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is Yom Kippur in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is Sukkot in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is Purim in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is Passover in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is Shavuot in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?
When is the Ninth of Av in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?