Hanukkah candle lighting depends on the date, your location, and your community’s custom. For 2025, December 20 is the seventh night of Hanukkah.
Date and number of candles
On December 20, 2025 (Shabbat/Saturday), it is the seventh night of Hanukkah, so seven candles are lit plus the shamash (helper candle).
The festival in 2025 runs from the evening of Sunday, December 14 through the evening of Monday, December 22, with December 20 falling near the end of the holiday.
Time to light that night
Because December 20, 2025 is Shabbat, the Hanukkah menorah is lit only after Shabbat ends and after Havdalah is recited.
The exact clock time depends on your city’s halachic “nightfall” time, so communities usually consult a local Jewish calendar or synagogue schedule for the precise time.
General timing guidance
Many Ashkenazi authorities prefer lighting around sunset or shortly after, while many Sephardi authorities prefer lighting at full nightfall (when stars are visible).
If not able to light at the ideal time, most rulings allow lighting later at night as long as household members are still awake.
