When is Hanukkah in 2023? A look at the history and why the holiday is celebrated.

Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the day of week in which Hanukkah starts in 2023.

Hanukkah – the Jewish festival of lights – arrives late each year, marking a time for both celebration and reflection. Rich with history and laced with just a bit of latke grease, Hanukkah is a time for Jews to gather with family and friends and retell a fabled story of resistance.

While certain symbols of the holiday like the menorah (a decorative candelabra) and the dreidel (a four-sided spinning top) may be more easily recognizable in popular culture, there is plenty more to learn about Hanukkah and why it is celebrated. 

Here's everything to know about Hanukkah 2023, including when it begins and why it lasts eight nights. 

When does Hanukkah start? 

This year Hanukkah runs from sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7, to sundown on Friday, Dec. 15. 

How many days does Hanukkah last?

Eight. The festival of lights lasts for eight days, and eight nights. This year it will begin the evening of Dec. 7, and end the evening of Dec. 15. 

What is Hanukkah, and why is it celebrated?

"Hanukkah" is Hebrew for dedication. Though the holiday is popularly known as the festival of lights, it is also the festival of rededication, meant to honor the victory of the Macabee soldiers over the Syrian Greek army.

In their victory, the Maccabees, led by Judah, reclaimed the holy temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to God. They had only enough oil to ignite the temple light for one night, and yet the light burned for eight days.

In the Jewish faith, this instance is referred to as the miracle of Hanukkah.  A candle on the menorah, or hanukkiah, is lit each night to mimic the one that burned in the holy temple so many years ago. 

Hanukkah in photos:The Jewish Festival of Lights is celebrated around the world

What do the 8 days of Hanukkah stand for?

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days to mark the miracle of an oil lamp which had only enough supply to burn for one day when the Macabee army recaptured the holy temple in Jerusalem but astonishingly burnt for eight. 

Why does Hanukkah change every year?

The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew calendar and not the Gregorian calendar, which is used by most of the world. This creates a shift in when the holiday is celebrated each year. 

The first day of Hanukkah is always on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which is based on the movements of the sun and moon. 

Holiday gift guide:10 Gifts I Love for Hanukkah

Where is Hanukkah celebrated?

Hanukkah is celebrated all around the world. Anywhere you can find a Jewish community, you can find Hanukkah celebrations.

Traditions may vary based on family and sect.

What are some traditions of Hanukkah? 

Aside from the lighting of the menorah, Hanukkah is also celebrated with traditional games and foods. 

Jewish celebrants will often cook potato pancakes known as latkes throughout the holiday, serving them at times with apple sauce or sour cream. Another traditional dish is a jelly donut, or sufganiyot.

Another honored tradition involves the game of dreidel, in which a four-sided top is spun. Each side is painted with a Hebrew letter. Whichever face it lands on, it instructs players to add or remove coins from a poker-style pot. The "coins" in question are actually made of chocolate. Wrapped in gold tin foil to resemble money, they are called "gelt."

What should I wear? Stylish Hanukkah outfit ideas

How many sides does a dreidel have? 

A dreidel had four sides, each with a different Hebrew letter on it.

The fours faces can display:

• Nun
• Gimel
• Hey or Chai
• Shin

Each letter corresponds to a different directive -- much like poker, you put chocolate coins in the pot or take them out and whoever has the most at the end wins.

What do Jews do on Christmas?

Some Jews are in mixed-faith families and celebrate Christmas while others choose to participate in traditions of their own to mark the day.

Some Jews spend the day going to the movies or eating out at Chinese restaurants while for others it is a day that punctuates difference, Andrew Wolfson writes for the Louisville Courier Journal.

Hanukkah recipes

• Check out these recipes from Louisville chefs that put a spin on popular dishes. 
• Four terrific Hanukkah dishes everyone should eat. 
• Try making latkes at home with these easy recipes.

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