This 12 months, Hanukkah and Christmas will share a particular connection because the Jewish Pageant of Lights begins on 25 December, marking solely the fifth time since 1900 that the 2 holidays have overlapped.
Hanukkah (additionally spelled Chanukah) is well known yearly by Jews world wide, however this 12 months’s begin date is a uncommon one: 25 December 2024, aligns with Christmas Day.
The vacation will run from 25 December to 2 January 2025. Whereas Hanukkah’s dates fluctuate yearly as a result of it follows the lunar Jewish calendar, this explicit timing is uncommon, because it’s solely the fifth time since 1900 that Hanukkah has begun on Christmas Day.
The vacation celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem within the 2nd century BC. After Jewish fighters efficiently reclaimed the Temple from overseas occupiers, they discovered a small quantity of pure oil, sufficient to mild the Temple’s menorah for sooner or later. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, giving rise to Hanukkah’s central theme: bringing mild into darkness, each actually and metaphorically.
The miracle of sunshine and the ritual of the menorah
Hanukkah’s central observance entails the lighting of the menorah, a candelabra with eight branches, every representing one night time of the pageant, plus a ninth holder for the shamash (the “helper” candle used to mild the others). Households throughout the globe collect every night time to mild a further candle, recite blessings, and infrequently sing particular songs. The lighting begins with one candle on the primary night time and will increase by one every subsequent night time.
Whereas the ritual varies in some methods relying on non secular observance – whether or not Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox – the central message is common: even a small act of religion or braveness can create profound, transformative change.
A time of household, meals, and reflection
Hanukkah traditions additionally embody the consuming of oil-based meals, most famously potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot), in addition to enjoying the standard recreation of dreidel. As Jewish communities internationally rejoice, the themes of resilience, dedication, and neighborhood are emphasised. Regardless of the festive environment, this 12 months’s Hanukkah comes at a time of elevated concern over world conflicts and an increase in antisemitism, prompting some to replicate extra deeply on the importance of sunshine in occasions of darkness.
The world over, menorahs are displayed in home windows, on metropolis streets, and at public landmarks as an emblem of hope and unity. The lighting of menorahs in public areas has develop into a visual custom, together with throughout Europe with large-scale shows on London’s Trafalgar Sq., the Place de la République in Paris, and at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
Chrismukkah, anybody?
With Hanukkah starting on Christmas, the fusion of the 2 holidays has led to the creation of the time period “Chrismukkah” – a mix of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions. Popularised within the early 2000s, significantly by the character Seth Cohen within the TV present The O.C., Chrismukkah has come to signify the mixing of cultures in interfaith households.