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.