The first night of Hanukkah in 2025 is Sunday evening, December 14.
How the date is set
Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which falls on different Gregorian dates each year because the Hebrew calendar is lunar‑solar. In 2025, the 25th of Kislev corresponds to the evening of Sunday, December 14.
Candle lighting timing
The holiday starts at sundown, and the first candle is lit that Sunday evening, not on the morning of December 14. Many communities light at sunset, while others wait until full nightfall, but both customs mark that same first night.
