Lighting ‘the world’s largest menorah’ in New York City
The over 30 foot tall, steel menorah is certified by Guinness World Records as the largest menorah.
Hanukkah 2025 begins this weekend and lasts for eight days leading into the winter solstice and nearing the Christmas holiday. Here’s when and what to know about the first night of the Jewish holiday.
Hanukkah is the Jewish wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated by lighting a menorah candle each night with special prayers, songs and latkes over a period of eight days and eight nights.
The eight-day festival doesn’t always fall on the same dates every year because it follows the ancient Jewish calendar which is based on a lunar month, using both moon and sun cycles. Hanukkah is always on the 25th day of the ninth Jewish month, called Kislev.
Although Hanukkah typically falls around the Christmas holiday, they are not related and are observed for different reseasons.
Here’s when and what to know about the start of Hanukkah 2025 and what it means.
When is first night of Hanukkah 2025? Hanukkah 2025 dates
The first night of Hanukkah begins on Sunday, Dec. 14, lasting eight days through Dec. 22. The dates are determined based on the Hebrew calendar each year.
What is Hanukkah?
The Hebrew word Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, means “dedication,” and is thus named because it commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
The miracle of this celebrated holiday retells the story of vanquishing an enemy and a small jar of oil used for anointing the Temple after this victory. When the Jews sought to light the Temple’s menorah, there was only enough oil for one night, but it lasted eight.
During Hanukkah, food fried in oil, like latkes, or potato pancakes, are served and the traditional game of dreidel is played.
How long does Hanukkah last?
Hanukkah lasts for eight days, representing the eight nights the menorah stayed lit.
Each evening as the sun sets, the menorah is lit — adding one additional candle each night until the eighth night — when it is entirely lit.
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist who covers trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic region.
