This year marks the first time since 2005 that Hanukkah begins on the same day as Christmas.
According to Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis, this convergence of the two winter holidays occurs roughly five times per century.
Since 1900, Hanukkah has started on December 25th on five occasions: 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and now 2024. The first night of Hanukkah, which commences on the 25th of Kislev in the Jewish lunar calendar, varies annually due to the lunar calendar’s 354-day cycle, differing from the solar calendar’s 365 days.
This shorter lunar cycle results in Hanukkah starting approximately 11 days earlier each year. While Hanukkah can begin as early as Thanksgiving, New York Board of Rabbis President Elie Weinstock emphasizes that the Festival of Lights always falls in winter, adhering to Jewish tradition’s seasonal requirements for holidays.
To reconcile this, the Jewish calendar incorporates leap years, adding a 13th month. Weinstock explains that the sun and moon align precisely every 19 years, with seven leap years within that cycle.
Despite their distinct religious origins, both Hanukkah and Christmas share a common theme of promoting goodwill and peace. Potasnik observes that both holidays emphasize bringing light and love into the world, expressing a shared commitment to spreading love and kindness.