Scholarly estimates place the Maccabean war at 168 BCE - 165 BCE. The first Hanukkah would have taken place after the end of the war, in 165 BCE.
Answer:2000 years ago when the Jews won physicaly and spiritualy over the Greeks Answer:164 BCE, one year after the miracle of the oil.The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) were miraculously victorious. When they reached the Temple grounds, they immediately reconsecrated it to God. As part of this action, they relit the Menorah (Exodus ch.25), which was fueled with olive oil. However, it soon became apparent that there was only sufficient oil to keep the candelabra burning for one single day - and it would take eight days to make and bring some more.
Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.
The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple. This is what Hanukkah represents: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.
(The Hanukkah-menorah, or hanukkiyah, is a special form of the original seven-branched menorah. Our Hanukkah-menorahs have eight spaces for oil, or candles, to mark each of the eight days for which the oil lasted and a ninth to hold the shamash, a candle used to light the others.)
The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.
Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil.
It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."
Hanukkah began on Nov 29, 1975, corresponding to 25 Kislev 5736.
1st of December - 25 Tishrei 5744 in the Hebrew calendar.
In 2015, Hanukkah began the evening of Sunday, December 6.
December 20, 1973
Since Hanukkah has yet to begin, the current number is 0. Hanukkah will begin at sunset on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
The next time Hanukkah will begin on the evening of December 5 will be in 2053. The last time this has happened was in 1996.
In 2013, it began on November 27.
It will begin at sunset on the 8th of December 2012.
Hanukkah: 165 BCE. Purim: about 360 BCE.
Every year.
Chanukah began on December 21, 2008
it starts december 8th and ends december 16th
No, there is no evidence that that's ever happened. However, some say that the candle-lighting in Kwanzaa was borrowed from Hanukkah.
The first night of Hanukkah in 2016 will begin in the evening of December 24, 2016. Because December 24 will be a Shabbat, the first Hanukkah candle is lit after twilight. On weekday nights, the nightly candles may be lit earlier.See also:More about Hanukkah
Hanukkah begins on 25 Kislev. For the year 2013, Hanukkah begins on November 27, 2013 and ends on December 5, 2013. Hanukkah is celebrated by the Jewish communities.
Yes, it always will happen each year, since Hanukkah lasts 8 days.