Hanukkah festivities light up Jerusalem as the Jewish holiday begins on Wednesday. This year marks a rare convergence, as Hanukkah and Christmas share the same date for the first time since 2005.

Each year, starting on the 25 th of the Jewish month of Kislev, Jews celebrate Hanukkah, often called the Festival of Lights. This year, Hanukkah begins at nightfall on December 25 and ends at nightfall on January 2 on the secular calendar.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the first night of Hanukkah has fallen on Christmas Day, with thousands of Wisconsinites celebrating on Wednesday. While Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ for Christians,