The Eight Days of Chanukah - Your Hanukkah 2018 Calendar


Sunday, December 2, 2018	Kislev 24
Tonight is the first Night of Chanukah After nightfall (click here for local times), recite blessings 1, 2 and 3 and kindle one light in the menorah.


Monday, December 3, 2018	Kislev 25

Tonight is the second Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle two lights in the menorah.


Tuesday, December 4, 2018	Kislev 26

Tonight is the third Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle three lights in the menorah.


Wednesday, December 5, 2018	Kislev 27
Tonight is the fourth Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle four lights in the menorah.


Thursday, December 6, 2018	Kislev 28

Tonight is the fifth Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle five lights in the menorah.


Friday, December 7, 2018	Kislev 29

Tonight is the sixth Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle six lights in the menorah. The menorah should be lit before lighting the Shabbat Candles (18 minutes before sunset). Light Shabbat Candles Click here for Shabbat candle lighting times


Shabbat, December 8, 2018	Kislev 30

Tonight is the seventh Night of Chanukah. Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle seven lights in the menorah. The menorah is lit after Shabbat ends and the Havdalah is recited.


Sunday, December 9, 2018	Tevet 1

Tonight is the eighth Night of Chanukah. Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle eight lights in the menorah.

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56 Comments

Guinevere December 7, 2018

I was wondering. What about Monday? If it's 8 days what do we light for monday? It's from the 2nd to the 10th this year? Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 8, 2018

in response to Guinevere:

The last candle is lit Sunday night this year and the actual eighth day is Monday. Reply

Jessica December 10, 2018

in response to Chabad.org Staff:

Do you do anything on 12/10/18 then since all candles were lit 12/9/18? Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 12, 2018

in response to Jessica :

On the day itself the Chanukah additions are added to the prayers as on the previous seven days of the holiday and we eat the traditional foods. Reply

Lisa Wojcik December 14, 2017

What are the three blessings? Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 14, 2017

in response to Lisa:

First blessing:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Second blessing:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-zman ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

Third blessing, recited only on the first night (or the first time lighting this Chanukah):

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion. Reply

Maritsa December 12, 2017

Hi, i lit my first candle today! Such a beautiful experience.
I notice mine burn 2 candles, the one next to the 1st one lit the other one.
Any ideas as of why
Thank you!
Happy Blessings Reply

Anonymous November 28, 2018

in response to Maritsa :

Hi I’m so happy to hear you lit the candles for the first time!
There’s a mitzvah not to do that’s called ויהא כמדורה- it should be like a bond fire. It’s saying that the Hanukah candles can’t be like a Bondfire
The main points of the Halacha is:
1. Can’t be used with a braided candle
2. They have to be spread out and not too close
3. You can’t put all the candles in a bowl with oil and light it.

Happy (Early) Hanukkah Reply

Clare DC December 12, 2017

I understand that the eight days begin the prior evening and that is why it feels like nine days 12-20, but if the eight night is the 19th and the 20th is the last official day, are any candles lit again on the 20th? What celebration should occur, if any, on the 20th? Many thanks. Reply

Rabbi Elchonon Kazen for Chabad.org December 14, 2017

in response to Clare:

In Judaism, the day begins from the night before. As such, we start the celebration on the 12th at sunset/nightfall and the first day continues until the 13th at Sunset/nightfall. Then the second day begins.
The reason is: because in Genesis it is recorded, "there was evening, and then there was day..." See the following two essays on the subject: here and here

As such, the eighth day begins (this year) on the 19th of December at sunset/nightfall and goes through the 20th until sunset. Therefore, there is no candle lighting on the 20th in the evening.

For the meaning of the eighth day of Chanukah see the following link. Reply

taylor not telling ya December 7, 2017

aren't there supposed to be like 9 candles? Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 7, 2017

in response to taylor:

No, we light eight candles and use a ninth as the 'servant' candle, to light the other flames. Reply

Anonymous November 10, 2017

Happy Hanukkah Reply

Yan December 28, 2016

Thank you!
I am a Russian Jew from Broslav.
Did not have a Chans to celebrate Hanukkah in Ukraine.
Thank you for your help
Yan Reply

HARRY BERGER palm beach Florida December 6, 2018

in response to Yan:

tomorrow is Shabbat and Hanukah when I light the candles I'll ad you in the blassings
Palm Beach Florida Reply

Chabad.org Staff via chabadone.org December 17, 2015

Yes, the menorah can be put away now, you can also leave it out for a few days if you wish to. Reply

Brie Taylor Culver City December 16, 2015

Do you take the menorah away after the 8th light is lit? Reply

Chabad.org Staff via chabadone.org December 15, 2015

To Alan All candles are lit from left to right, the first candle is placed on the right side and lit as is. The second candles are placed from right to left and lit left to right. Hope that helps. Reply

Paul van Beek Lakeland; Florida December 14, 2015

Thank you so much for your information. It's a blessing Reply

Jerri Reich Marietta December 10, 2015

Whew! So glad I checked here. I would have messed up Friday night. Chanukah candles and prayers first, then Shabbos! Reply

Alan Griff Tamaqua December 10, 2015

I thought the first light was on the left side of the menorah. Then, on the right side. Reply

Paul Rayburn Winnipeg December 17, 2014

Thank you, it's been a long time for me Reply

Anonymous NY November 13, 2014

Thank you so much for that answer. I now understand. I really appreciate your help. Reply

Chabad.org Staff via mychabad.org November 12, 2014

To Anonymous When calculating the days of Chanukah you need to bear in mind that the Jewish day begins the night before. In other words, in 2014 the first candle is lit on December 16 but the actual first day is the 17th, likewise, the eighth day of Chanukah will begin at nightfall of December 23 and last through sundown of the next day. Reply

Anonymous New York November 11, 2014

If there is 8 days do Chanukah and the 8 th candle is lit on the 23rd. Why doe the calendar say it is from the 16 th to the 24 th.? Isn't that 9 days? And what is celebrated on the 24th? Reply

Chabad.org Staff via mychabad.org October 20, 2014

To Anonymous One gift is fine and even no gift is fine. I'm sure your roommate will appreciate your Happy Chanukah wishes. Reply

Anonymous October 20, 2014

My roommate is Jewish and I know very little about Chanukah. I'm a broke college kid, so I don't plan on buying 8 presents. Is it okay to give a present on just 1 day? I was thinking the final night, but I'm unsure if I'm breaking a custom. Reply

Anonymous December 24, 2013

Menorah I am not Jewish but I love candles and recently puchased a non-traditional looking Menorah to put on my dining room table. The stand is made out of metal and is low in height with glass holders for the candles. My grandchildren laughed and asked why I bought it - I said I liked it. I don't see why I have to be Jewish to have such a beautiful display of candles for the holidays. Reply

sherri November 18, 2017

in response to Anonymous:

Be blessed with light!... Reply

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