Hanukkah candle lighting in Seoul
Hanukkah 2026 begins on Friday evening, December 4, and lasts eight nights. Each night one more candle is added.
| Night | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 candle | before the Shabbat candles |
16:55 |
| 2 candles | after Shabbat ends and Havdalah |
17:56 |
| 3 candles | 17:35 | |
| 4 candles | 17:35 | |
| 5 candles | 17:35 | |
| 6 candles | 17:35 | |
| 7 candles | 17:35 | |
| 8 candles | before the Shabbat candles |
16:55 |
How to light
- On the first night light one candle, and add one more each night, up to eight on the last night.
- Place the candles from right to left, and light the newest candle first, on the left, moving right.
- The shamash, the candle used to light the others, stands apart and is not counted.
- On weekdays light at nightfall; the candles should burn for at least half an hour after dark.
- On Friday light the Hanukkah candles before the Shabbat candles, with candles that will burn until after dark.
- On Saturday night light after Shabbat ends; many make Havdalah first.
The blessings
Every night two blessings are said before lighting, and on the first night the Shehecheyanu blessing is added.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner Chanukah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, sheasa nisim laavoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this season.
Shehecheyanu, on the first night only
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigianu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
How the times are calculated
On weekdays the time is nightfall in Seoul. On Friday it is the Shabbat candle lighting time, 18 minutes before sunset, and on Saturday night it is the end of Shabbat, when the sun is 8.5 degrees below the horizon. Some light at sunset; ask your community rabbi.