This year, when does Hanukkah begin? What is the proper method for lighting a menorah? These are responses to some of the most often asked questions concerning Hanukkah.

Washington — This week marks the start of the “Festival of Lights,” or Hanukkah, a Jewish festival.

Following the defeat of the Greek Syrian army by a small group known as the Maccabees, Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The oil lasted for eight nights during the fight, but the Jews only had enough to light the Temple’s menorah for one.

Based on statistics from Google Trends, here are some of the most common questions people have regarding Hanukkah.

When is Hanukkah’s first night?

Yes, Hanukkah starts on Christmas Day in 2024. This year, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Wednesday, December 25.

How frequently does Christmas coincide with the first day of Hanukkah?

The first night of Hanukkah also falls on Christmas Day for the seventh time since 1910. This was last observed in 2005. Additionally, it happened in 1910, 1921, and 1959.It will be 2035 before Hanukkah falls on Christmas again.
Hanukkah’s first day, which starts at sunset, has fallen on Christmas Eve four times since 1902 (1902, 1940, 1978, and 2016).

When does Hanukkah fall on the calendar?

The 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month in the Hebrew calendar, marks the start of Hanukkah every year. In contrast to the solar Gregorian calendar used by the majority of the globe, the Hebrew calendar is lunar.The start of Hanukkah appears to fluctuate due to the calendar mismatch. The “Festival of Lights” started on Christmas Day this year, and in 2013, it even fell on Thanksgiving, something that won’t happen again until 79,811.

What is Hanukkah’s duration?

The duration of Hanukkah is eight days.

For Hanukkah, how many candles are used?
You burn one candle every night of Hanukkah in addition to the shamash, or “helper” candle, which is lighted first every night and serves as the source of all the other candles.

Thus, the shamash and another candle are lit on the first night of Hanukkah.

Forty-four candles will be used during the eight nights of Hanukkah. How to arrange candles for Hanukkah?

The first candle is placed in the far right corner of the menorah following the shamash. Additionally, a second candle is placed directly to the left of the candle from the first night on the second night, and so on for the remaining eight nights. But you start with the newest candle (the one farthest left on the menorah) and work your way from left to right.

On Hanukkah, what do you eat?

Latkes, or fried potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, or jelly donuts, are traditional Hanukkah fare. In order to honor the Hanukkah miracle of the oil lasting for eight nights, latkes and sufganiyot are usually fried.