Tap a candle to light it or blow it out
Learn more about Chanukah
Chanukah 2026, December 4 to 12
The story, how to light, the blessings and your candle chart, all in one place.
The story
More than 2,000 years ago, the Syrian-Greek rulers of the Land of Israel tried to force the Jewish people to give up the Torah and its mitzvahs.
A small band of Jews led by Judah the Maccabee stood up to a huge army and won. They returned to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and went to light its menorah, but found just one jar of pure olive oil, enough for a single day.
It burned for eight. So every year we light for eight nights, adding one more flame each night, because a little light pushes away a lot of darkness.
How to light your menorah
- Pick your spot. A window facing the street, or a doorway across from the mezuzah, so passersby can see the light.
- Set up the candles from right to left, one for each night, plus the shamash (the helper candle).
- Light the shamash, say the blessings below, then use it to light the candles from left to right, newest first.
- Stay a while. Let the candles burn at least 30 minutes after dark. Sing, spin a dreidel, eat a latke.
The blessings
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱ־לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה
Every night
Baruch atah A-do-nai, E-lo-heinu melech ha-olam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner Chanukah.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱ־לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Every night
Baruch atah A-do-nai, E-lo-heinu melech ha-olam, she’asah nissim la’avoteinu, bayamim hahem bizman hazeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who did miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time of year.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱ־לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְמַן הַזֶּה
First night only, Friday, December 4
Baruch atah A-do-nai, E-lo-heinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’kiyemanu v’higiyanu lizman hazeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time.
Your 2026 candle chart
| Night | Date | Candles | When to light |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday, Dec 4 | By 5:07 PM, before Shabbat candles Use candles that burn until 30 minutes after dark | |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec 5 | After Shabbat ends, 6:06 PM | |
| 3 | Sunday, Dec 6 | After nightfall, about 5:53 PM | |
| 4 | Monday, Dec 7 | After nightfall, about 5:53 PM | |
| 5 | Tuesday, Dec 8 | After nightfall, about 5:53 PM | |
| 6 | Wednesday, Dec 9 | After nightfall, about 5:53 PM | |
| 7 | Thursday, Dec 10 | After nightfall, about 5:53 PM | |
| 8 | Friday, Dec 11 | By 5:08 PM, before Shabbat candles Use candles that burn until 30 minutes after dark |
Times are for Gainesville. Sunset is around 5:25 PM all week, and on weeknights we light after nightfall. Chanukah ends Saturday, December 12, at nightfall.
Latkes
Potato pancakes fried in oil, to remember the little jar of oil that lasted eight days. Nobody complains about this one.
Gelt
Chanukah money. Kids get coins (chocolate ones count), and it’s a great time to give a little tzedakah too.
Sufganiyot
Jelly donuts, a favorite in Israel and at every Chabad Chanukah party. Wear dark clothes, the powdered sugar wins.
The dreidel
Its four letters stand for “a great miracle happened there.” Spin one below and see what you get.
Give it a spinTap the dreidel to play
Want to go deeper?
Chabad.org has a whole library on Chanukah. A few good places to start.
Celebrate with us
Menorah lightings in Flowery Branch and Gainesville, with latkes, donuts and a gelt drop for the kids.