# What time does Chanukah start tonight in Paris, France?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-does-chanukah-start-tonight-in-paris-france/606848
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 20, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-does-chanukah-start-tonight-in-paris-france/606848 "2011-12-20T14:09:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-does-chanukah-start-tonight-in-paris-france/606848/1 "2011-12-20T14:09:05Z")
All the websites I’ve found have precise times for shabbat but not for Chanukah (which I realize isn’t a ‘serious’ holiday but it’s still gotta start at some point right?).
[http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=195](http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=195) indicates sunset is at 16:56 local time, so is that official? Or do we still need to wait for 3 stars in the sky or what?
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-does-chanukah-start-tonight-in-paris-france/606848/2 "2011-12-20T14:48:59Z")
You don’t need to light them exactly at sunset.
> **[Hanukkah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah)**
>
> Hanukkah\[a\] (/ˈhænəkə/, /ˈhɑːnəkə/; חֲנֻכָּה Ḥănukkā listenⓘ) is a Rabbinic Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
> Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from November 28 to December 27 in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is obser...
> [@](#):
>
> The custom of the Vilna Gaon observed by many residents of Jerusalem as the custom of the city, is to light at sundown, although most Hassidim light later, even in Jerusalem. Many Hasidic Rebbes light much later, because they fulfill the obligation of publicizing the miracle by the presence of their Hasidim when they kindle the lights.
As soon as it is dark should be sufficient.
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### Author:  [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-time-does-chanukah-start-tonight-in-paris-france/606848/3 "2011-12-20T15:49:06Z")
[These](http://www.hebcal.com/shabbat/?city=Paris) [two](http://shabbos.com/) sites seem to be using a time for Shabbat candle-lighting that’s consistently 28 minutes before the time of sundown given by [this site](http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=195&month=12&year=2011&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1). So by that logic, the candle-lighting time for tonight should be 28 minutes before 4:56 PM, or 4:28 PM.
That said, I’m just a Gentile with an interest in astronomy, so the above should be disregarded should a more knowledgeable person come along.