The Eight Days of Chanukah

In 2021 Tevet started on Sunday December 5, check out our handy calendar at chabad.org/calendar Reply

Hi Jerome, we did write: "after nightfall" and provided a link to where you can find the times, which vary from city to city.
Happy Chanukah! Reply

Check out future dates at chabad.org/holidays Reply

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

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

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

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

Sure, try here chabad.org/102815 Reply

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

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

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

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