When Exactly Is the First Day of Hanukkah? — And Why the Date Changes Every Year
When Exactly Is the First Day of Hanukkah? — And Why the Date Changes Every Year
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Curious when Hanukkah begins this year? Discover how the Hebrew calendar sets the date — and learn the 2025, 2026, 2027 & beyond start-dates. Understand why Hanukkah floats on the Gregorian calendar, and how to know exactly when to light the menorah.
A Story to Begin With
Imagine a small family gathered around a simple candle in a cozy living room. Outside the window, winter is inching in — cold air, long nights, the kind of darkness that can settle into the heart. Inside, a child watches the tiny flame glow. For one night — but maybe, just maybe, for eight nights — that flame will grow. It will cut through the darkness, one little light at a time, spreading warmth, hope, togetherness.
That moment becomes sacred. Every year, families around the world wait for the right night to light that first candle. But when is that first night? Why does it seem to move around on the modern calendar?
If you’ve ever wondered “When is Hanukkah?” — or “When do I light the first candle?” — you’re not alone. Pull up a seat. Let’s walk through it together.
✅ Quick Summary
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In the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah always begins on the 25th of the month Kislev. (Wikipedia)
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Because the Hebrew calendar is lunar-solar (not identical to our modern Gregorian calendar), the corresponding Gregorian date changes each year. (Reader's Digest)
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In 2025, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 14, 2025, and runs through Sunday night, December 22, 2025. (Chabad)
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On the first night (evening of December 14, 2025), the first candle is lit. In subsequent nights, you add one more candle each evening until all eight are glowing. (HISTORY)
🕯️ Why the Date of Hanukkah Changes Every Year
📅 The Hebrew Calendar vs. Gregorian Calendar
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Hanukkah is set according to the Hebrew calendar. Each year, it begins on the 25th of Kislev. (Wikipedia)
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The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar: months are based on the moon’s cycle, but the calendar is adjusted occasionally (with a “leap month”) to stay roughly aligned with the solar year. (jewfaq.org)
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Because of that, the 25th of Kislev will fall on different dates on the Gregorian calendar each year — sometimes late November, sometimes late December. (Wikipedia)
🌙 The Holiday Always Starts at Sundown
Another important detail: in Jewish tradition, a new day begins at sundown, not at midnight. That means when you see a date like “December 14, 2025,” that is the date on the Gregorian calendar — but the holiday actually begins at sunset of the previous evening. (jewfaq.org)
Thus the “first night of Hanukkah” may feel like it spans two days to those unfamiliar with how Jewish days are counted.
📆 When Does Hanukkah Start — Coming Years (and 2025!)
Here’s a quick peek at upcoming dates for reference:
| Year | First Night (sundown) | First Candle Lit on (Gregorian) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, December 14, 2025 | Evening of December 14 (Chabad) |
| 2026 | Friday, December 4, 2026 | Evening of December 4 (Chabad) |
| 2027 | Friday, December 24, 2027 | Evening of December 24 (Chabad) |
| 2028 | Tuesday, December 12, 2028 | Evening of December 12 (Chabad) |
⚠️ Because the Hebrew calendar is lunar-solar, dates can vary somewhat — but the 25th of Kislev is always the start. (Reader's Digest)
❤️ The Deeper Meaning — Why This Matters
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Connection to tradition: By anchoring Hanukkah to Kislev 25, generations past and future remain connected, regardless of how our civil calendar shifts.
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Light in darkness: Hanukkah always falls in late fall to mid-winter in the Northern Hemisphere — a time when darkness grows longer. Lighting the menorah becomes a powerful ritual of hope, warmth, and resilience.
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Flexibility and rhythms: The lunar-solar cycle reminds us of natural rhythms — moon and sun, dark and light — and places sacred time outside rigid, industrial calendars.
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Awareness and anticipation: Because the date moves on the Gregorian calendar, celebrating Hanukkah often coincides with other year-end holidays — a gentle reminder to pause, reflect, and honor heritage.
🔎 How to Know Your First Night
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Look up the date for 25 Kislev this year (in a Jewish calendar).
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Check a Jewish-culture calendar or website for when sundown is in your location — the holiday begins at sundown the evening before the listed date.
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Mark it as the first night: that’s when you light the first candle on the menorah.
✨ Final Thoughts — Why This Holiday Still Lights Hearts
In a world that often feels chaotic, constantly moving, tethered to schedules and routines, Hanukkah offers a breath of sacred rhythm.
It’s not just about when to light a candle. It’s about reaching into darkness — whether literal winter nights or times of sorrow — and choosing to bring light.
It’s about remembering identity, tradition, faith, community. It’s about knowing that, no matter how the calendar shifts, the flicker of hope, night after night, can still glow.
So this year, when the first flame is kindled — whether December 14 or another night — you’ll know: this isn’t just a date. It’s a promise.
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