London, December 2025. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is observed this year from sunset on Sunday 14 December until sunset on Monday 22 December, spanning eight consecutive nights. Each evening after nightfall, an additional candle is lit on the hanukkiah, culminating in a full lighting on the final night. As reports The WP Times, public observance in London combines religious tradition with civic visibility, with events taking place at fixed times and locations across the capital.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the tradition that a small quantity of oil burned for eight days. In Britain, the festival is not a public holiday, but public menorah lightings have become an established feature of the winter calendar, particularly in London.
When Hanukkah ends
- Final night: Monday 22 December 2025
- Conclusion: after sunset (approximately 16:00–16:15 in London)
- Public life: transport, shops and offices operate normally throughout
The concluding evening is traditionally marked by the lighting of all eight candles, often accompanied by short addresses, music and communal gatherings.
London: confirmed public events with dates and times
Trafalgar Square — central London
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Dates: 14–22 December 2025
Key public lighting: Tuesday 16 December, from 18:00
London’s most prominent public Hanukkah observance takes place beneath the landmark menorah in Trafalgar Square. The installation remains in place throughout the festival, with a major public lighting held in the early evening, featuring music and brief remarks. The site remains illuminated until the final night.
Islington Green — north London
Address: Islington Green, Upper Street, London N1 8DU
Date: Sunday 14 December
Time: 16:00–18:00
A long-running local event organised by community groups, including Chabad. The programme includes a ceremonial lighting shortly after sunset, traditional music and family-oriented activities. Attendance typically includes both Jewish residents and local neighbours.
JW3 Jewish Community Centre — Finchley Road
Address: JW3 Jewish Community Centre, 341–351 Finchley Road, London NW3 6ET
Dates: 14–21 December
Typical lighting time: from 17:30 on weekdays (excluding Friday evening and Saturday)
JW3 hosts a series of structured Hanukkah evenings, including communal candle lighting, talks and cultural programming. Some events require advance booking, but public lightings are generally open.
Hackney Town Hall — east London
Address: Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, London E8 1EA
Date: Wednesday 17 December
Time: 18:30–20:00
A borough-supported community event focusing on cultural context and education, with music and a short lighting ceremony. Numbers are smaller than central London events, but the emphasis is on local participation.
Beyond London: Hanukkah in Britain
Outside the capital, public Hanukkah observance follows a similar pattern, though on a smaller scale:
- Manchester: community and synagogue-led lightings during the eight evenings, typically from 16:30 onwards
- Leeds: educational and cultural events linked to local Jewish institutions
- Brighton & Hove: small public or interfaith gatherings, usually mid-festival
Exact times are generally announced locally and align with sunset.
How Hanukkah is marked publicly
Public Hanukkah events in Britain follow a consistent and restrained format. They are designed to be accessible, time-limited and explanatory, rather than ceremonial in the formal sense. A typical programme includes:
- a brief introduction outlining the historical and religious meaning of Hanukkah
- candle lighting shortly after sunset, in line with religious custom
- traditional songs or instrumental music, often performed live
- short addresses or remarks, usually lasting no more than ten minutes
Security is present at most public events but remains low-key, reflecting standard policing guidance for religious gatherings rather than exceptional measures.
What to know if attending a public Hanukkah event
- Timing matters: arriving before sunset allows visitors to see the full lighting sequence
- Weather considerations: outdoor events proceed in cold or wet conditions; gatherings are typically brief
- Symbolic timing: the final night, 22 December, carries particular weight as all eight candles are lit together
Events are generally free to attend and do not require prior knowledge of Jewish practice.
How Hanukkah is marked at home
While public lightings attract attention, Hanukkah remains primarily a home-centred festival. Families light the hanukkiah each evening after sunset, adding one candle per night, often gathering around the table rather than in formal prayer settings.
Food plays a central role, reflecting the festival’s association with oil. Common dishes include latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam-filled doughnuts), both traditionally fried. Meals are informal, and the emphasis is on shared time rather than ritual structure.
Customs at home typically include:
- lighting candles in a visible place, often near a window
- playing dreidel games, particularly with children
- exchanging small gifts or symbolic tokens
- retelling the story of Hanukkah in simple, practical terms
No special clothing or formal observance is required, and participation varies widely between households.
In Britain, Hanukkah is observed without interruption to daily life. Schools, offices and transport continue to operate normally. Public visibility — particularly in London — has increased over recent decades, but the tone remains understated. The festival’s presence in public squares and civic spaces is intended less as a spectacle and more as a statement of continuity: that religious life, practised openly and calmly, remains part of the country’s shared winter landscape.
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