when is the first night of hanukkah

The first night of Hanukkah begins at sundown on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar each year, which falls on different Gregorian dates annually.

Quick timing facts

• Hanukkah always lasts eight nights and days, starting on the evening when the 25th of Kislev begins.

• The first night is when one candle (plus the shamash/helper candle) is lit on the hanukkiah (menorah).

• Many communities light the candles right at sundown or shortly after nightfall on that first evening.

How the first night works

• On the first night, one candle is placed in the menorah, along with the shamash, and special blessings are recited before lighting.

• Each subsequent night an additional candle is added, building from that first night until all eight are lit.

Why the date changes

• The Hebrew calendar is lunar-based, so the 25th of Kislev shifts each year relative to the Gregorian (civil) calendar.

• Because of this, the first night of Hanukkah can fall anytime from late November to late December in a given year.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.