Fifth Day of Hanukkah

What Is Fifth Day of Hanukkah?

The Fifth Day of Hanukkah marks the fifth evening and day of the eight-day Jewish festival known as Hanukkah or Chanukah. This period commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Each evening, an additional candle is lit on the menorah, culminating in eight candles on the final night.

On the Fifth Day, five candles are lit, symbolising the progression through the festival’s narrative and observances. It is a time for families and communities to gather, reflect on historical events, and engage in specific customs. While not a public holiday in most countries, it is widely observed by Jewish communities globally.

History and Origins of Fifth Day of Hanukkah

The history of the Fifth Day of Hanukkah is intrinsically linked to the broader origins of the Hanukkah festival itself. Hanukkah commemorates events that transpired over two millennia ago. In 168 BCE, the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish religious practices and desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem, dedicating it to Zeus.

A rebellion, led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers, successfully overthrew the Seleucid regime and reclaimed the Temple. Upon its rededication, the Maccabees sought to light the Temple’s menorah, which required ritually pure olive oil. They found only a single cruse of oil, enough for one day. However, this oil miraculously burned for eight days, allowing time for new pure oil to be prepared. This event forms the basis for the eight-day duration of Hanukkah and the central ritual of lighting the menorah. The Fifth Day simply marks the progression of this eight-day observance.

How Fifth Day of Hanukkah Is Celebrated

Celebrations on the Fifth Day of Hanukkah follow the general customs of the festival, with a focus on lighting the menorah. As with every night of Hanukkah, the central observance is the kindling of the Hanukkah menorah, or chanukiah. On the Fifth Day, five candles are lit – four for the previous nights and one for the current night – using a ninth helper candle known as the shamash. Blessings are recited before and after the lighting.

Traditional songs, such as “Ma’oz Tzur” (Rock of Ages), are often sung. Families typically gather for meals, and it is common for children to receive gelt (chocolate coins) or small gifts. The game of dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters, is also a customary activity during this period.

Celebrations in Israel

In Israel, Hanukkah is a prominent cultural festival, and the Fifth Day is observed with widespread menorah lightings in homes and public spaces. Schools are often on holiday for part of Hanukkah. The emphasis is on communal gatherings, eating traditional foods, and educational programmes that recount the story of Hanukkah. Large public menorah lightings are common, fostering a sense of national identity and shared heritage.

Celebrations in the United States and Diaspora

In the United States and other diaspora communities, the Fifth Day of Hanukkah is similarly marked by family-centred celebrations. Menorah lightings in homes are central, often accompanied by the exchange of gifts, particularly among children. Public menorah lightings are also common in town squares and community centres, organised by synagogues and Jewish organisations. Traditional foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam doughnuts), which are fried in oil, are consumed to commemorate the oil miracle.

When Is Fifth Day of Hanukkah?

The Fifth Day of Hanukkah is a moveable observance determined by the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Therefore, the Fifth Day falls on the 29th of Kislev. If the month of Kislev has only 29 days, the Fifth Day of Hanukkah will coincide with the 1st of Tevet.

As the Hebrew calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar, the Fifth Day of Hanukkah’s date varies each year in the Gregorian calendar. It typically occurs in late November or December. The Hanukkah days begin at sundown on the preceding Gregorian calendar day, in accordance with Jewish tradition where a new day starts at dusk.

Fifth Day of Hanukkah Key Facts