First Day of Chanukah in United States
Quick Facts
The first day of Chanukah is the start of the Chanukah period, which lasts for eight days, from the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the second day of Tevet in the Hebrew calendar.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| First Day of Chanukah | English |
| Primer día del Jánuca | Spanish |
First Day of Chanukah 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012First Day of Chanukah 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
List of dates for other years
Many Jewish communities in the United States observe the first day of Chanukah, which marks the start of Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah or Festival of Lights. Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom.
Chanukah gifts wrapped and ready to be given. ©iStockphoto.com/MarkCoffeyPhoto
What do people do?
Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Chanukah on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Chanukah period lasts for eight days and is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. The first night of Chanukah (or Hanukkah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum.
Many Americans of Jewish faith also eat food fried in olive oil, such as potato cakes, and different fried breads. Chanukah dishes include sufganiot (Hanukkah donuts), potato latkes (pancakes), mandelbrot (this can be sliced like a hard bread), and rugelach (pastry that with different fillings). The first day of Chanukah is the start of a celebratory period in which a four-sided toy called dreidel is used for games. The first night of Chanukah is also a night when people sing traditional songs to celebrate Chanukah. Gift-giving is also popular at this time of the year.
Public life
The first day of Chanukah is not a federal public holiday in the United States. Some Jewish schools have their school vacation fall around the same time of Chanukah.
Background
Chanukah commemorates the Jewish people’s successful rebellion against the Greeks in the Maccabean War in 162 BCE. A ritual cleansing and re-dedication of the Temple occurred after the Jewish people’s victory. It is believed that there was only enough consecrated oil to keep the lamp burning for one day but the small bottle of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah, is referred as the Feast of Lights or Festival of Lights for this reason.
Moreover, the survival of Judaism over the many years is also celebrated during this period. The last day of Chanukah, which marks the end of Chanukah, falls on the eighth day of this period.
Symbols
The dreidel is a toy that is popular during the Chanukah celebrations. It is a spinning top with a different Hebrew letter inscribed in each of its four sides – the four letters form an acronym meaning “a great miracle happened here”. The hanukiah (or chanukkiyah) is a type of candelabrum that holds eight candles to commemorate the eight days that the oil burned and a ninth candle that sits apart, known as the shamash, or servant candle that lights the others. One candle is lit on the first night, another on the second, and so forth until all candles are lit on the last night.
About First Day of Chanukah in other countries
Read more about First Day of Chanukah.First Day of Chanukah Observances
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | Dec 3 | 1980 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 21 | 1981 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 11 | 1982 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Dec 1 | 1983 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 19 | 1984 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Dec 8 | 1985 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 27 | 1986 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 16 | 1987 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Dec 4 | 1988 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 23 | 1989 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 12 | 1990 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 2 | 1991 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Dec 20 | 1992 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Dec 9 | 1993 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Nov 28 | 1994 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 18 | 1995 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 6 | 1996 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 24 | 1997 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 14 | 1998 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 4 | 1999 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 22 | 2000 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 10 | 2001 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Nov 30 | 2002 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 20 | 2003 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 8 | 2004 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 26 | 2005 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 16 | 2006 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 5 | 2007 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 22 | 2008 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Dec 12 | 2009 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Dec 2 | 2010 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 21 | 2011 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Dec 9 | 2012 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 28 | 2013 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Dec 17 | 2014 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Dec 7 | 2015 | First Day of Chanukah | Jewish holiday |
Related holiday
- Last day of Chanukah ―Sunday, December 16, 2012
Other holidays in December 2012 in United States
- World AIDS Day ―Saturday, December 1, 2012
- International Day for the Abolition of Slavery ―Sunday, December 2, 2012
- First Sunday Advent ―Sunday, December 2, 2012
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities ―Monday, December 3, 2012
- International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development ―Wednesday, December 5, 2012
- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ―Friday, December 7, 2012
- International Civil Aviation Day ―Friday, December 7, 2012
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception ―Saturday, December 8, 2012
- International Anti-Corruption Day ―Sunday, December 9, 2012
- Human Rights Day ―Monday, December 10, 2012
- International Mountain Day ―Tuesday, December 11, 2012
- Last day of Chanukah ―Sunday, December 16, 2012
- Pan American Aviation Day ―Monday, December 17, 2012
- Wright Brothers Day ―Monday, December 17, 2012
- International Migrants Day ―Tuesday, December 18, 2012
- International Human Solidarity Day ―Thursday, December 20, 2012
- December Solstice ―Friday, December 21, 2012
- Washington's Birthday ―Monday, December 24, 2012
- Christmas Eve ―Monday, December 24, 2012
- Christmas Day ―Tuesday, December 25, 2012
- Kwanzaa (until Jan 1) ―Wednesday, December 26, 2012
- New Year's Eve ―Monday, December 31, 2012
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