How are the Hanukkah dates determined?

The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew calendar, specifically starting on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, which can fall anywhere from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. This variance happens because the Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar (based on both the sun and moon), while the Gregorian calendar is solely solar.

Each year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on the 25th of Kislev and lasts for eight days. To align with the solar year, a “leap month” called Adar II is occasionally added to the Hebrew calendar. This adjustment keeps holidays like Hanukkah aligned with the seasonal cycle so that they don’t drift too far through the solar year.

To summarize:
– Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar.
– It can fall between late November and late December.
– The Hebrew calendar’s lunisolar nature causes these dates to shift annually on the Gregorian calendar.