picture of family lighting hanukkah candles
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Download a Printable Copy of the Hanukkah Candle Blessings

Click here for a PDF of the blessings said during Hanukkah candle lighting.

The core ritual of the eight-day Hanukkah holiday is the lighting of the menorah, or hanukkiah. This nine-stemmed menorah is lit each evening of the holiday after sunset, with one candle added each additional night. It is customary to place the menorah in a window or some other publicly visible location to fulfill the custom of publicizing the miracle, in which a jar of oil sufficient to burn for one night burned for eight in the ancient Temple. Prior to lighting the candles each night, a series of blessings are recited.

Click here to download a printer-friendly PDF of the Hanukkah blessings

Click here for more information on lighting the menorah, including audio recordings of the traditional Hanukkah blessing melodies.

Explore Hanukkah’s history, global traditions, food and more with My Jewish Learning’s “All About Hanukkah” email series. Sign up to take a journey through Hanukkah and go deeper into the Festival of Lights.

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Hanukkah 2024

In 2024, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 and lasts until sundown on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

When Is Hanukkah in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?

In 2023, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 and lasts until sundown on Friday, Dec. 15.

Is it Permissible to Work on Hanukkah?

Jews rest on Shabbat and other holidays. Does that include Hanukkah?