Lighting Up December: Hanukkah & Winter Festivals

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, will be celebrated this year from sundown on Sunday 14 December to sundown on Monday 22 December. This eight-day festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days instead of only one. Each evening, families light candles on a menorah, adding one more each night until all eight glow brightly as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience.

Jewish communities celebrate Hanukkah in homes, synagogues, and public spaces. Larger cities like London host large menorah lightings, often accompanied by music, dancing, and traditional foods such as latkes (crispy potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam-filled doughnuts). Many Hanukkah foods are deep-fried in oil, symbolising the oil from the menorah used in the Temple. Other?favourites?include the delicacy?bimuelos?with?apple?sauce as?topping. It’s also a time of giving, with families exchanging gifts and supporting charitable causes.

Hanukkah often coincides with other winter celebrations, including Christmas, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. Each of these festivals shares themes of light, generosity, and togetherness. Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness; Christmas brings messages of hope and goodwill and Kwanzaa emphasises unity and cultural pride. These overlapping traditions remind us that, across faiths and cultures, light is a universal symbol of renewal and joy.

Whether through saying “Happy Hanukkah”, making decorations, sharing stories, or joining local events, we can all embrace the spirit of light and kindness this season. 

May the lights of Hanukkah, and all winter festivals, remind us of the power of hope and community.