Last day of Hanukkah 2024 in the United Kingdom

Hanukkah is an eight-day festival. On the last day, the final candle is lit, bringing to a close a period when Jewish people commemorate a miracle described in the Talmud.

Last Day of Hanukkah in the Jewish Calendar

Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the 9th month of the Jewish calendar, and concludes eight days later. Since Kislev can have 29 or 30 days, the last day of Hanukkah either falls on the 2nd or on the 3rd day of the following month, Tevet. Either way, the final day of Hanukkah always falls in December or January in the Gregorian calendar.

Is the Last Day of Hanukkah a Public Holiday?

While Hanukkah carries great significance for Jewish people, there are no bank holidays associated with the feast in the United Kingdom. However, the last day of Hanukkah can fall on other UK bank holidays, such as Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year's Day.

During the Hanukkah period, Jewish businesses may be closed or have different opening hours. Jewish children at state schools can obtain permission to have time off school to celebrate this holiday.

How is Hanukkah celebrated in the UK?

Why Is Hanukkah 8 Days Long?

Lasting a full eight days, Hanukkah is the longest Jewish holiday. While some other Jewish observances, such as Passover, are also celebrated for eight days in the UK, they technically only last for seven days. However, an extra day is traditionally added in Jewish communities outside of Israel.

The reason for the holiday's length lies in an event commonly called the miracle of the cruse of oil, as recounted in the Talmud, where a small amount of the oil used to purify the temple in Jerusalem miraculously burned for eight days.

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Who Celebrates Hanukkah in the UK?

The United Kingdom is estimated to have the 5th largest Jewish population in the world, with just under 300,000 people practicing the Jewish faith in the country. By far the largest British Jewish community is found in London, followed by those in Manchester and Leeds.

History of Jews in the UK

Jewish settlement in England can be traced as far back as the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Jewish community outnumbered the Spanish and Portuguese communities in England by the 18th century.

Many Jewish families in Eastern Europe moved to England to escape persecution and hardship between 1881 and 1914. About 150,000 Jewish people settled in England, with large numbers staying at London's East End during that time. England continued to receive Jewish immigrants escaping persecution around the time of World War II (1939-1945).

Jewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel

In the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances, with the exception of Yom Kippur, which lasts only one day worldwide, and Rosh Hashana, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora.

This custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon.

The beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for 2 days to make sure that the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.

About Last day of Hanukkah in Other Countries

Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.