Hanukkah begins on Christmas Day in rare calendar convergence

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is celebrated annually by Jews around the world, but this year’s start date is a rare one: 25 December 2024, aligns with Christmas Day.

The holiday will run from 25 December to 2 January 2025. While Hanukkah’s dates fluctuate every year because it follows the lunar Jewish calendar, this particular timing is unusual, as it’s only the fifth time since 1900 that Hanukkah has begun on Christmas Day.

The holiday celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC. After Jewish fighters successfully reclaimed the Temple from foreign occupiers, they found a small amount of pure oil, enough to light the Temple’s menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, giving rise to Hanukkah’s central theme: bringing light into darkness, both literally and metaphorically.

The miracle of light and the ritual of the menorah

Hanukkah’s central observance involves the lighting of the menorah, a candelabra with eight branches, each representing one night of the festival, plus a ninth holder for the shamash (the “helper” candle used to light the others). Families across the globe gather each night to light an additional candle, recite blessings, and often sing special songs. The lighting begins with one candle on the first night and increases by one each subsequent night.

While the ritual varies in some ways depending on religious observance – whether Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox – the central message is universal: even a small act of faith or courage can create profound, transformative change.

A time of family, food, and reflection

Hanukkah traditions also include the eating of oil-based foods, most famously potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot), as well as playing the traditional game of dreidel. As Jewish communities across the world celebrate, the themes of resilience, dedication, and community are emphasised. Despite the festive atmosphere, this year’s Hanukkah comes at a time of increased concern over global conflicts and a rise in antisemitism, prompting some to reflect more deeply on the significance of light in times of darkness.

Across the world, menorahs are displayed in windows, on city streets, and at public landmarks as a symbol of hope and unity. The lighting of menorahs in public spaces has become a visible tradition, including across Europe with large-scale displays on London’s Trafalgar Square, the Place de la République in Paris, and at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.

Chrismukkah, anyone?

With Hanukkah beginning on Christmas, the fusion of the two holidays has led to the creation of the term “Chrismukkah” – a blend of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions. Popularised in the early 2000s, particularly by the character Seth Cohen in the TV show The O.C., Chrismukkah has come to represent the blending of cultures in interfaith households.