The Eight Days of Chanukah - Your Hanukkah 2020 Calendar - Chanukah


Thursday, December 10, 2020	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.


Friday, December 11, 2020	Kislev 25

Tonight is the second Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle two 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 12, 2020	Kislev 26

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


Sunday, December 13, 2020	Kislev 27
Tonight is the fourth Night of Chanukah Recite blessings 1 and 2 and kindle four lights in the menorah.


Monday, December 14, 2020	Kislev 28

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


Tuesday, December 15, 2020	Kislev 29

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


Wednesday, December 16, 2020	Kislev 30

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


Thursday, December 17, 2020	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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72 Comments

Mary Fort Worth December 19, 2020

Can the Monarah lights stay on past the 8 days of celebration? Until the end of December 31? Reply

Annie December 18, 2020

How do I find the dates for Hanukkah in the coming years? Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 21, 2020

in response to Annie :

Check out future dates at chabad.org/holidays Reply

Peter December 17, 2020

Is Chanukah and the story of the Maccabees in the Torah? Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org December 19, 2020

in response to Peter:

It is not. Have a look at this link for some background to that. Reply

Uziel Matisyahu Choctaw December 17, 2020

During chanukah we put the candles in right to left, and light them left to right. So the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first. My question is; where did this tradition come from? Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org December 19, 2020

in response to Uziel Matisyahu:

The source for this in the Code of Jewish Law, OC 676:5. The reason is so that the blessings being recited are directly associated with the miracle of the oil lasting another day. Reply

Anonymous Chevy chase December 26, 2019

If Sunday night is the first night of Chanukah, and the first candle is lit Sunday night, how many candles do I light on Thursday night? Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 26, 2019

in response to Anonymous:

As depicted on the calendar above :) Thursday night you light five candles. Reply

Roberta Martin New York December 14, 2019

1. How many days in advance of Hannuka on the 22nd is it appropriate to put the monorahstand out in the lobby of a residential buidling? (Unlit until Hannuka begins.)

2. How many days after the 30th can the Menorah it stay out? Lit or unlit?

3. How long can the candles actually stay lit after the 30th?

Thank you. We are a building with residents who celebrate many traditions. Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman December 16, 2019

in response to Roberta Martin:

Hey Roberta,

There aren't really any laws of this sort in Jewish law. You can put an unlit menorah out anytime you want. Many synagogues have them as decorative pieces the entire year.

Lighting it seems a little off if it is not the actual holiday, but you can have them out as long as you wish. At some point, though, they will seem a little out of place :) Reply

Roberta New York December 17, 2019

in response to Rabbi Mendel Adelman:

Thank you very much! This is very helpful. Reply

Devin San Diego December 1, 2019

Does anyone know where I can find each days meaning of Chanukah? I can’t seem to find them. Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 1, 2019

in response to Devin :

Sure, try here chabad.org/102815 Reply

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

Corey Portland Or December 27, 2019

in response to Chabad.org Staff:

Thank you! 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

Holly Seattle December 24, 2019

in response to Yan:

No menorah? No worries.. use a potato instead to hold candles. Not enough candles? Cut them small, and each one in a little oil. It's you remembering 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

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