Last day of Chanukah in United States

Many Jewish people in the United States mark the last day of Chanukah as the end of the Chanukah celebrations. Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish observance to commemorate the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom.

It is a Jewish tradition for candles to be lit during Chanukah. ©iStockphoto.com/Pavlina Richterova

What do people do?

Chanukah is one of the happiest Jewish events for many Jewish Americans. Many families light candles on the hanukiah, a type of candle holder, eat sizzling potato pancakes, give gifts and play with the dreidel, a spinning toy that is particularly popular during Chanukah.

The last day of Chanukah is the eighth day of Chanukah. It is known as Zose Chanukah, Zos Chanukah or Zot Chanukah.  It is the second day of the month of Tevet and marks the day on which the great miracle of oil occurred, according to Jewish belief. It is a particularly special day because it encapsulates all of Chanukah.

Chanukah events in the United States include daytime or evening events featuring make popular food eaten during Chanukah, particularly food fried in oil. There are also music nights reserved for singing and playing the dreidel, games events, as well as concerts and plays.

Public life

The last day of Chanukah is not a nationwide federal holiday in the United States. Many Jewish schools have their school vacation fall around the same time of Chanukah.

Background

Chanukah commemorates the Jewish people’s successful rebellion against the Syrians 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. Chanukah is celebrated for eight days between the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the second day of Tevet in the Hebrew calendar. The first day of Chanukah marks the start of eight-day Chanukah period.  It is marked as the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Chanukah period ends on the second day of the month of Tevet. It is important to note that many Jewish observances begin at sunset on the day before.

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 Last day of Chanukah in other countries

Last day of Chanukah Observances

Related holiday

• First Day of Chanukah ―Sunday, December 9, 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
• First Day of Chanukah ―Sunday, December 9, 2012
• Human Rights Day ―Monday, December 10, 2012
• International Mountain Day ―Tuesday, December 11, 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