What Day Does Hanukkah 2012 Start?

The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah — also called the Festival of Lights — begins this year on Saturday at sundown. In the Hebrew calendar — which is a lunar calendar — Hanukkah is celenbrated on the 25th day of the month of Kislev. Hanukkah runs for eight days, and will conclude this year on Sunday night, Dec. 16.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is a celebration commemorating the Maccabean Revolt, a battle between the Jews and the Seleucids, who ruled Israel more than 2,000 years ago.

The Jews drove the Seleucids out of Jerusalem and reclaimed their desecrated holy temple, according to Chabad of Pasadena.

The victors found a one-day supply of olive oil that had not been contaminated by the Seleucids and used it to light the temple menorah. The miracle of Hanukkah is that the oil — which was supposed to last for only one day — lasted for eight days, hence the length of time Hanukkah is celebrated today.

The celebration is observed this day by lighting a candle on the menorah on each of the eight nights.  Other customs include eating traditional foods made from oil including potato latkes and deep fried donuts known as sufganiyot, and playing with a spinning top called a dreidel, which is inscribed with the Hebrew acronym for "A great miracle happened there."

Chabad of Pasadena will be hosting a variety of celebrations, one of which is the construction of the large Lego menorah at City Hall during the Chanukah Family Festival on Sunday. For more information, you can check out their web site.

Another place in Pasadena to note is the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center on North Altadena Drive, which also features its own calendar of events.