The Chanukah Lights are lit in the evenings preceding each of the eight days of Chanukah beginning on the eve, Saturday, December 24th.. Please see the section 'Special Shabbat Requirements' for special instructions regarding lighting the candles before Shabbat.
Both men and women are obligated to light the Chanukah menorah, or to participate in the household menorah lighting. Children should be encouraged to light their own menorahs. Students and singles who live in dormitories or their own apartments should kindle menorahs in their own rooms.
Many have the custom to place the menorah in a doorway opposite the mezuzah (such is the custom of Chabad-Lubavitch) so that the two mitzvot of mezuzah and Chanukah surround the person. Others place it on a window sill facing a public through-fare. (If placed on the windowsill, it should be no higher than 20 cubits - about 29 feet - above street level).
The Chanukah lights should consist of lamps or candles - i.e., a flammable fuel that feeds a visible flame via a wick. The most ideal way to fulfill the mitzvah is with cotton wicks in olive oil or beeswax candles; paraffin candles or other types of candles or lamps are also acceptable, but not gas lights or electric lights. Iif circumstances do not allow the use of an open flame, a proper rabbinical authority should be consulted).
The lamps or candles must contain enough fuel, at the time of the lighting, to burn until half an hour after nightfall ("nightfall" is the point at which it grows dark enough for three average-sized stars to be visible - about 20-30 minutes after sunset, depending on the location).
The lamps or candles should be arranged in a straight row and should be of equal height. The shamash - the "servant" candle that kindles the other lights - should be placed apart from the rest (higher, outside the row, etc.).
On the first night of Chanukah one light is kindled on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night add a second light to the left of the first and kindle the new light first, proceeding from left to right, and so on each night.
The Chanukah lights are kindled in the evening preceding each of the eight days of Chanukah. The custom of many communities (and such is the Chabad-Lubavitch custom) is to light the menorah shortly after sunset; other communities light it at nightfall. In either case, the menorah must contain enough fuel at the time of the lighting to burn until 30 minutes after nightfall.
If one did not kindle the Chanukah lights early in the evening, they can be kindled later, as long as there are people in the streets (or others awake in the house).
