What date is Hanukkah 2024, how and why is it celebrated?

Jewish communities will start celebrating Hanukkah this week with public events planned across Greater Manchester over the eight nights of the festival. The annual festival involves lighting candles on a menorah, eating fried foods and spinning dreidels.

The first night of the festival, which falls on different dates each year, coincides with Christmas Day this year. The eight-day event, which celebrates the stories of the Maccabees triumphing over their oppressors, sees events take place across Greater Manchester.

Menorahs are displayed in public spaces with communal lighting ceremonies hosting across the city-region throughout the week. There will also be celebrations with live music hosted at a supermarket car park as well as festive activities planned in Heaton Park.

Throughout the week, menorahs will be paraded on cars throughout Greater Manchester too. Here's everything you need to know.

Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates the story of the Maccabees – Jews who rebelled against King Antiochus, the Seleucid ruler of Judea and Samaria. In the second century B.C. modern-day Israel was ruled by the Seleucids who were Greek-Syrian. They tried to force the Jews not to follow their religion.

A small band of Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, rose up and defeated them. After they liberated the second temple, a miracle was said to have happened.

A multi-branched candelabra known as a menorah was lit and despite the Maccabees only finding a small drop of oil, enough to burn for one day, the oil ended up lasting for eight nights – enough time for more oil to be resupplied.

The 'festival of light' usually falls in December, but as it follows the Jewish lunisolar calendar, it can fall in late November or coincide with Christmas.