Why Hanukkah's dates change every year
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Hanukkah starts at sundown Dec. 14, with Dec. 15 as the first full day of the holiday this year.
What's happening: That's different from last year, and it will be different next year. Hanukkah begins on a different day on the Gregorian calendar, but it's on the same date annually on the lunisolar Hebrew calendar.
Between the lines: Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.
- The Hebrew calendar — also called the Jewish calendar — is timed according to the moon, with a "leap" month added seven times (including this year) in every 19-year cycle.
- It works out that Jewish holidays are around the same time every year — like Hanukkah always being in the winter — and there's a full moon on the 15th of the month and a new moon at the start of the month.
🕎 Local Hanukkah menorah lightings: You can celebrate Hanukkah at several events across the region this weekend:
🌴 Hotel del Coronado
📅 Dec. 14–22
✨ Nightly menorah lighting on the Southpointe Lawn, hosted by Chabad of Coronado.
🎉 Liberty Station
📅 Dec. 14
🎭 Family-friendly fun, treats, entertainment and menorah lighting at the Central Promenade with Chabads of Downtown and Pacific Beach.
🎶 One Paseo
📅 Dec. 16
🎵 Live music, kosher bites and menorah lighting with Chabad of Rancho Santa Fe.
🎢 SeaWorld Festival of Lights
📅 Dec. 14–22
🌟 Nightly menorah lighting.
🎭 Seaport Village Hanukkah Fest
📅 Dec. 14, 5–8pm
🎶 Live music, menorah lighting and festive fun.
🚂 Chanukah Train & Celebration at Old Poway Park
📅 Dec. 14, 4pm
🚂 Ride the Chanukah train for free.
🕯️ Menorah Lighting at Del Mar Highlands
📅 Dec. 18, 6–7pm
✨ Community gathering and symbolic lighting at this free event.
🏃 Festival of Lights Run at JCC La Jolla
📅 Dec. 14, 8:30am
👟 Run the 1-mile, 5K, or 10K and enjoy sufganiyot and music.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the One Paseo event takes place on Dec. 16 (not Dec. 14).