Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, but its dates vary each year on the Gregorian calendar because the Hebrew calendar is lunar. This means Hanukkah can fall anywhere from late November to late December.
How to Light the Menorah
First Night: Light the shamash (helper candle) first, then use it to light the first candle. This year, Hanukkah 2024 begins on the evening of December 25.
Subsequent Nights: Add one candle each night from right to left, but always light the candles from left to right, starting with the newest candle.
Example for Hanukkah 2024:
Dec 25 (Night 1): Shamash + 1 candle
Dec 26 (Night 2): Shamash + 2 candles
Dec 27 (Night 3): Shamash + 3 candles
Continue until the eighth and final night, Jan 1, 2025, when all candles are lit.
Important Note
The dates for Hanukkah are not the same every year. Here are examples:
2023: December 7–15
2024: December 25–January 2
2025: December 14–22
To know the exact dates, consult a Jewish calendar or reliable source each year.