Start of Hanukkah this year earliest since 1888

Because it is based on the lunar calendar, Hanukkah occurs at different dates from one year to the next.

The holiday is observed annually on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, meaning Hanukkah can begin as early as late November or as late as the end of December on the Western calendar.

This year is particularly special, as Hanukkah will begin on Thursday, Nov. 28 — the same day as Thanksgiving and its earliest start since 1888.

According to published reports, the next time Hanukkah will be celebrated so early will be in the year 79,043.

Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jews over their Syrian oppressors some 3,000 years ago. The battle is widely credited with saving the Jewish religion.

After securing the victory, the Jews cleansed the Temple that had been desecrated by their Syrian captors. They relit the eternal light, which was to stay burning inside the Temple.

There was only enough oil for the eternal light to stay lit for one night. However, according to the Hanukkah story, the eternal light stayed lit for eight nights, until new oil could be fetched. As a result, Hanukkah is commonly referred to as “the miracle of lights.”

The centerpiece for Hanukkah celebrations is a nine-branched menorah known as the hanukiah. Each night of the eight-day holiday, Jews light a new candle on the menorah.

A ninth candle, called the shamash — or helper — candle, lights the others each night. The shamash is the tallest candle and is positioned in the middle of the menorah.