Chanukah 2024 Begins Around the World

Starting in New Zealand and rapidly making its way west, the Chanukah lights were kindled around the world for the first time in 2024. Menorahs were lit at home by young and old, and in public places in front of crowds numbering in the thousands, spreading their light in every corner of the globe.

This year Chanukah—from nightfall on Wednesday, Dec. 25 until nightfall on Thursday, Jan. 2—marks 50 years since the first-ever public menorah was lit in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1974 as part of the worldwide Chanukah awareness campaign spearheaded by the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. The Chanukah campaign brought the “Festival of Lights” into homes, hospitals, army bases and wherever else Jews find themselves, and the public menorah brought Chanukah’s message of the victory of light over darkness directly onto streets around the world.

“There is a special advantage in the mitzvah of the Chanukah lights,” the Rebbe explained at the farbrengen held on Dec. 15, 1973 (20 Kislev, 5734), “for when a Jew kindles a menorah, literal light emanates from it and illuminates the street.”

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More from Chabad.org

Today, Chabad-Lubavitch’s public Chanukah menorah displays have become a staple of Jewish cultural and American public life, forever altering the perception of the festival.

This year once again, Chabad-Lubavitch will light more than 15,000 menorahs in public squares around the world, including displays at iconic locations like Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the White House, the Eiffel Tower, the Brandenburg Gate and Independence Hall in Philadelphia—where it started 50 years ago. An additional 5,000 menorahs are expected to be mounted on vehicles this year creating awareness in cities, towns and rural areas around the world about the holiday.

Moreover they will distribute more than 700,000 menorahs, 30,800,000 candles and 2,500,000 holiday guides (in 13 languages) around the world this Chanukah.

Circling the globe, here is a gallery of photos showing the light of Chanukah illuminating the world. In addition, Chabad.org will stream several Chanukah events live, including Paris to Jerusalem to New York; Detroit; Calgary; and the National Menorah Lighting in Washington, D.C.